Google updated the leading paragraph in the search spam policies to clarify that the policies apply to the Google Search AI responses, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode (or whatever else is AI-generated). Google said, "the Google Search spam policies also apply to generative AI responses in Google Search."
Google said it made this change because it wanted to make "it clear that the spam policies apply to all of Google Search, including generative AI responses."
What changed? The spam policies document now has this line:
In the context of Google Search, spam refers to techniques used to deceive users or manipulate our Search systems into featuring content prominently, such as attempting to manipulate Search systems into ranking content highly or attempting to manipulate generative Al responses in Google Search.
I bolded the new part, here it is as a screenshot (compare it to the Wayback machine):
So all those tips and tricks to get your brand and name in the AI Overviews or AI Mode, might be against Google's spam policies...
Forum discussion at X.
