Definition
The 2024 Spam Updates encompass several anti-spam updates deployed by Google throughout 2024, most notably in March and June. The March 2024 update, launched simultaneously with the March 2024 Core Update, introduced three new anti-spam policies: Scaled Content Abuse targeting automated production of low-value content, Site Reputation Abuse targeting Parasite SEO, and Expired Domain Abuse targeting the purchase of expired domains to exploit their authority history. SpamBrain was significantly enhanced to detect these new forms of manipulation. The June 2024 Spam Update refined detection and extended coverage.
Key Points
- March and June 2024 updates, strengthening SpamBrain
- Three new policies: scaled content, reputation abuse, expired domains
- First time Google explicitly targets abusive AI content production
Practical Examples
Expired domain abuse
An operator buys an expired domain from a former high-DA cooking blog and transforms it into an online casino site. The Spam Update detects this manipulation and removes the site from results.
Scaled content production
A network of sites generating thousands of articles per day via AI tools without any human curation is detected by SpamBrain and receives manual actions for 'pure spam'.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, buying expired domains is not prohibited per se. What is penalized is purchasing an expired domain specifically to manipulate rankings by exploiting its past authority for unrelated content.
Google accepts AI content if it provides real value to users. Abusive AI content is produced at scale without human review, without expertise, and solely to manipulate rankings.
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Last updated: 2026-02-07