Source: Search Engine Journal
Google is deliberately manipulating search results to feed bad data to rank tracking software, creating a widening gap between what SEO tools report and what actually drives traffic. Thousands of marketing teams rely on rank trackers to validate strategy and allocate budgets. If the data is systematically corrupted, it becomes harder to distinguish good optimization work from wasted effort, pushing brands toward paid search and away from organic investment. The move also signals Google's willingness to degrade third-party visibility into its algorithm as a competitive advantage, since better SEO tracking threatens its ad business.