After more than 32 hours of silence following the leak of Google search ranking data, Google has officially confirmed the breach. However, the company advises caution against drawing conclusions about Google Search ranking mechanisms from the leaked documents.

Google provided a statement, which reads:

A Google representative addressed the recent data leak but refrained from discussing specific details. The company reiterated its policy of not disclosing particular ranking signals. Google explained that this approach is intended to prevent bad actors and spammers from exploiting the system.

Google emphasised that the leaked information should not be considered comprehensive, fully relevant, or up-to-date regarding Google search rankings. They noted that it’s important to approach the data with caution, as its accuracy and current relevance are uncertain. This perspective seems reasonable, as there’s no definitive way to verify the leaked details.

The rumours suggesting the data leak was fake have been debunked.

Did Google deceive us? Many in the industry believe so, but it’s challenging to claim definitively that Google lied based on this incident. We can’t be certain if the information in the leaked documents was ever implemented, used solely for testing, or relevant at the time of Google’s statements. Therefore, it’s difficult to draw firm conclusions.

Meanwhile, a poll on X asked, “After reading Google’s response to the data leak, will you trust Google going forward?” As expected, the majority expressed distrust. With over 1,250 votes, 89.3% responded with “no.”