Back button hijacking spam policy
Google added a spam policy prohibiting pages that manipulate browser history to prevent users returning to search results.
What changed
Google introduced a new spam policy covering back button hijacking, where a page injects history entries or intercepts navigation so that pressing back does not return the user to the search results. Google classified the practice as a deceptive user experience violating its spam policies, subject to both algorithmic action and manual actions. The policy applies regardless of whether the behaviour comes from the site itself or from third-party scripts and advertising it hosts.
Timing
Rollout began 13 April 2026. No completion date was announced. Rankings typically remain unstable for the whole rollout window, so measurements taken inside it are not a reliable read on the outcome.