Google Deepens Crackdown on Sites Publishing 'Parasite SEO' Content

Google has warned websites they will be penalized for hosting marketing content designed to exploit search rankings, regardless of whether they created or outsourced the material. The crackdown on so-called "parasite SEO" targets websites that leverage their search rankings to promote unrelated content, such as news sites hiding shopping coupon codes or educational platforms publishing affiliate marketing material.

Chris Nelson from Google's search quality team said the policy applies even when content involves "white label services, licensing agreements, partial ownership agreements, and other complex business arrangements." The move follows Google's March announcement targeting site reputation abuse, which gained attention after Sports Illustrated was found publishing AI-generated product reviews through third-party marketing firm AdVon Commerce.

Penalized?

[rossdee]

How is Google going to penalize companies? Apart from lowering them in the ratings that is.

Re:

[jonbryce]

Lowering the ratings for the entire site?
It definitely needs to be done as Google search results are garbage these days.

Re:

[vyvepe]

Pushing them to second or later page in search results is likely enough.

Re:

[drinkypoo]

In no way apart from that way. You answered your own question, which did not need to be asked because we all knew the answer already.

Downranking is spectacularly effective, which we know because of all the shady AF attempts to bypass it.

Sponsored articles are alternative to Google Ads

[Hentes]

Can't have that!

Re:Sponsored articles are alternative to Google Ad

[The-Ixian]

Exactly!

Google: "Quit enshitifying the search results! That's our job!"