Google, the search giant that claims to prioritize quality content and fair rankings, appears to be falling short of its promises. While the company often asserts that its ranking algorithms are designed to reward valuable, spam-free content and ensure equal opportunities for websites of all sizes, recent examples prove otherwise.

Instead, Google’s monopoly on search has created an ecosystem riddled with loopholes, enabling dubious content to thrive while small businesses and legitimate creators struggle for visibility.

A Broken Promise: Quality Content vs. Manipulative Tactics

Google’s guidelines have long emphasized that high-quality content, irrespective of brand size or popularity, can rank well.

The reality, however, tells a different story. Popular websites with established authority and domain trust are being exploited by hackers, hosting spammy content that cloaks itself from bots but misleads human users.

Despite Google’s claims of advanced spam-detection systems, many manipulated tactics continue to dominate search rankings, benefiting from their domain authority and delivering questionable value to users.

Take, for example, a subdomain of Delhi University, a reputed educational institution. This subdomain has been hacked and is redirecting users to betting sites, hosting content on gambling, adult material, and other spammy topics.

The above page from the sub-domain ranking for “online earning without investment” which has 49.5K search volume in India. If we go by the definition and checklist provided by Google to address the content quality then none of these meets the requirement.

The same page from the screenshot returns a 404 error for users. In other words, it uses cloaking to display one page to users and a different one to Googlebot.

Astonishingly, more than 40,000 pages from this subdomain are indexed in Google, contributing to massive traffic spikes.

SEMrush data reveals that this subdomain generated between 2 million traffic between January 6–14, 2025, with ~10 million traffic with highest peak.

Google positions itself as the champion of quality and fairness, emphasizing that its guidelines prioritize valuable content for users. However, the reality is starkly different. Pages blatantly violating Google’s core principles—such as cloaking, which serves one version of a page to Googlebot and another to users—continue to rank prominently.

Despite failing to meet Google’s own criteria for rankings, these manipulated pages not only avoid penalties but also attract millions of visitors through Google Search. This glaring contradiction raises a critical question: How can users trust that Google is delivering the best, most relevant results?

If pages engaging in practices like cloaking can dominate rankings, it undermines the credibility of Google’s promises and leaves businesses and creators who follow the rules at a disadvantage. What good are guidelines if they are ignored in practice? It’s time for Google to address this disparity and ensure its rankings reflect its stated values.

Such cases are not isolated—hundreds of government and educational websites are experiencing similar attacks, with Google seemingly failing to detect and act on these issues. Based on my research following sites are compromised with same hacked pattern.

The Fallout: Businesses Bear the Brunt

While compromised websites benefit from Google’s inability to detect such spam, small and medium businesses (SMBs), content creators, and SEO professionals are witnessing a steep decline in traffic.

Despite following all guidelines, investing in creating meaningful content, and adhering to SEO best practices, they are struggling to stay afloat.

In 2024, many businesses reported traffic declines that ultimately forced them to shut down.

In October 2024, Google hosted the the Google Web Creator Summit. On paper, it sounded like a great initiative—a chance for Google to address the concerns of creators, unveil new updates, and hopefully strengthen the ecosystem for everyone. But honestly, the reality left many of us scratching our heads.

One of the most frustrating parts was the lack of actionable solutions. People raised critical issues—declining traffic, algorithmic biases—but the responses felt vague at best. Google seemed more focused on showcasing shiny updates than addressing real-world problems creators face daily.

This part stung the most. Creators poured their hearts out, talking about how smaller publishers are being edged out and how algorithm changes are suffocating their reach. Yet, it felt like Google wasn’t really listening. 

Google, in its bid to remain relevant, has implemented changes that often seem to favor larger, more authoritative brands or spammy domains exploiting loopholes, further marginalizing smaller players.

Monopoly Without Accountability

Google wields unparalleled control over the search landscape, dictating who ranks and who doesn’t. With great power comes great responsibility, but Google’s response to its failures has been woefully inadequate. Instead of addressing these glaring flaws, the company shifts blame to website owners, claiming they should secure their sites better or comply more strictly with guidelines.

However, when hacked sites and spammy subdomains consistently outperform legitimate, well-crafted content, it’s clear that the onus lies with Google to enforce its rules effectively. The current situation demonstrates that Google’s spam-detection systems are not only inadequate but are also causing real-world harm.

A Community in Crisis

The dissatisfaction with Google’s search results is reaching a boiling point. Forums, social media platforms, and SEO communities are filled with complaints about declining traffic, business closures, and worsening user experiences. SMBs that once thrived on organic traffic now face existential threats, unable to compete with the systemic failures that allow hacked sites and cloaked spam to dominate rankings.

Google’s lack of accountability is deeply troubling. Despite countless user reports and undeniable evidence of manipulation, spammy pages often remain indexed, driving massive traffic. Only in rare instances, such as when high-profile cases like Forbes were highlighted by the SEO community, has Google been compelled to act. Meanwhile, genuine creators and businesses are left with no clear path for recourse, struggling to gain visibility despite their best efforts.

Google’s failures in serving quality results are no longer isolated incidents—they are systemic. As hacked websites, cloaked spam, and authority exploitation run rampant, small businesses, creators, and legitimate users bear the cost. The promise that “anyone can rank with quality content” rings hollow in a landscape where reputation, size, and loopholes dictate success.

It’s time for Google to step up and take responsibility. A monopolistic search engine cannot afford to neglect its duty to users and creators alike. If these issues persist, the damage to Google’s credibility, as well as to the broader digital ecosystem, could be irreversible.

The question remains: Will Google listen and act, or will it continue to prioritize expediency over quality? The world is watching—and the clock is ticking.