Google Ignores Spam Reports That Contain Personal Data
▼ Summary
– Google updated its spam reporting documentation to clarify that spam reports are not fully confidential and may share personal information with sites receiving manual actions.
– The update was made in response to feedback about personal information in spam reports being shared with spammy sites.
– Google added a notice that spam reports containing personally identifying information will not be processed.
– Google removed previous wording stating reports remain anonymous if personal info is avoided, replacing it with a requirement not to include such information.
– Users are advised not to include personal details like names or business info in spam reports to ensure processing and protect privacy.
Google has quietly updated its spam reporting guidelines, making it clear that spam reports containing personally identifiable information (PII) will be ignored entirely. The change addresses long-standing concerns about what happens to sensitive data when a spam report triggers a manual action against a site.
The revision stems directly from user feedback. Google’s changelog confirms the update was made to clarify when and why the company may use spam reports to issue manual actions, formerly known as penalties. The key takeaway: if your report includes personal details, Google will not process it.
Previously, Google’s documentation stated that any text submitted in a spam report would be sent verbatim to the site owner if a manual action was issued. The old language assured users that as long as they avoided including personal information in the open text field, the report would remain anonymous. Google also noted it would not include any other identifying information when notifying the site owner.
That language has now been replaced. The updated version reads: “Don’t include any personally identifying information in your submission. To comply with regulations, we must send the submission text to the site owner to help them understand the context of a manual action, if one is issued. Because of this, we won’t process your submission if we determine it contains personally identifying information to protect privacy. Not including such information fully ensures your information is safe and prevents your submission from being discarded.”
This is a double-edged development. On the positive side, Google is protecting privacy by refusing to process reports that expose personal data. But it also means that if you accidentally include your name, business name, or any other identifiable detail, your report will be discarded and no manual action will be taken.
For SEOs and site owners who use Google’s spam reporting tool, the message is clear: keep your reports strictly factual and anonymous. Do not name your site, your business, or yourself. Anything you write in that text field could be forwarded directly to the spammer if a manual action is issued, and including personal data now guarantees your report will be ignored.
The updated documentation is available on Google’s spam, phishing, and malware reporting page. For more context on how the tool works, Google recently made it easier for SEOs to flag and remove spammy sites from search results.
(Source: Search Engine Journal)
