Last week, Google moved to send all searches through
Google SSL Search, setting up the ultimate end of
keyword data passed along via referrers non-
advertisers. Now, Google’s official alternative channel
for this information — Google Webmaster Tools — has
also stopped sharing the data, most likely due to a
bug.
A Bug Or An Intentional Move?
Google Webmaster Tools has had outages before, so
maybe this is just a temporary bug. But if so, it’s
terrible timing.
NOTE: See the postscript below that suggests this is
indeed a bug. We’ve added that to the headline and
the lead of the story.
Google stopped reporting keyword data through the
“Search Queries” feature as of September 25. There’s
no data for that day or any of the following ones, from
what I can see — and others on Twitter have reported
a similar omission.
That puts the cut-off happening only two days after
Google confirmed that it had ramped up the use of
Google SSL Search . Even people not logged into
Google are now directed to Google SSL Search, also
called Google Secure Search. That causes search
terms to be stripped from the “referrer” data passed
along to publishers, except when people click on ads.
Advertisers still get referrer data off their ads.
The data withholding, coupled with an earlier move to
allow publishers to archive search term information if
they use Google’s AdWords system — rather than the
Google Webmaster Tools system — has led to much
suspicion that Google’s holding back the data not just
for privacy reasons (and some doubt even this) but
also to push ads.
Google Stays Silent
Early yesterday, we asked Google about the Google
Webmaster Tools issue — whether it was a bug or a
permanent change. An entire business day went by
without the company responding.
That fits in with Google’s earlier refusal to answer
further questions I sent last week about the reasons
why it increased the use of secure search — and it’s
not encouraging for frustrated publishers.
For more background, see our earlier stories:
Google’s Plan To Withhold Search Data & Create New
Advertisers
Post-PRISM, Google Confirms Quietly Moving To Make
All Searches Secure, Except For Ad Clicks
“100% Not Provided Is Not The End Of SEO” Insider
Opinions On Google’s Move To Withhold Data
This is a related column I wrote for CNET that may also
be of interest:
How Google could have made the Web secure and
failed — again
Postscript (1:30am ET): As noted in the comments
below, one of Google’s webmaster relations people,
John Mueller, has acknowledged the issue and
promises it will be fixed:
The team is aware of the problem and working on
speeding that data back up again. Thanks for your
patience in the meantime.
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