2,500 pages of Google search algorithm documentation was reportedly leaked, providing details on how the search engine operates.

Rand Fishkin wrote in a blog post for SparkToro that, on May 5th, he “received an email from a person claiming to have access to a massive leak of API documentation from inside Google’s Search division. The email further claimed that these leaked documents were confirmed as authentic by ex-Google employees, and that those ex-employees and others had shared additional, private information about Google’s search operations.”

Fishkin also writes: “Many of their claims directly contradict public statements made by Googlers over the years, in particular the company’s repeated denial that click-centric user signals are employed, denial that subdomains are considered separately in rankings, denials of a sandbox for newer websites, denials that a domain’s age is collected or considered, and more.”

Fishkin goes on to discuss details about the information contained in the Google search algorithm documentation, how he corresponded via email and video call with the anonymous source (who ultimately decided to come forward and identify himself), how he reached out to “some ex-Googler friends” – the two of which who responded said that the documents appeared to be legitimate – and more. He also discusses some “big picture takeaways” for marketers. The discussion is highly technical, but interesting.

So far (as reported by The Verge), Google “hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment on the legitimacy” of the Google search algorithm documentation, “including a direct request to refute their legitimacy.” Gee. See what I did there? 😉

So, what do you think? Do you think that these reportedly leaked documents will change how organizations construct their websites and content? Please share any comments you might have or if you’d like to know more about a particular topic.

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