Google has expanded its search spam policies to explicitly prohibit "back button hijacking," a deceptive practice where websites interfere with browser back button functionality to redirect users to unwanted pages or ads. The new policy will result in spam actions against violating sites. This reflects a rise in the practice and prioritizes protecting user experience and browser navigation expectations.
Policy
A new spam policy for "back button hijacking"
Google expands search spam enforcement to target back button hijacking, treating deceptive UX manipulation as a ranking factor alongside content spam.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 12:00 PM UTC2 MIN READSOURCE: Hacker NewsBY sys://pipeline
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