Quick answer: Google has changed how it enforces its site reputation abuse policy — commonly called the “parasite SEO” crackdown — so that manual actions taken against third-party content sections will no longer affect how a site ranks for searchers located in the European Economic Area (EEA).
What changed
Google’s Search Central blog confirmed the update: sites that previously lost rankings globally due to a site reputation abuse manual action will now see those penalties excluded from EEA search results specifically, while enforcement continues to apply everywhere else, including the United States.
The change follows scrutiny from European regulators over how platform-level ranking penalties intersect with competition rules, and it effectively creates a regional split in how the same policy is applied.
Why it matters
Large publishers that monetize through sponsored or third-party content sections — a common target of the site reputation abuse policy — now have a meaningful compliance nuance to track. A manual action recorded in Search Console may fully apply in some markets and be neutralized in others, which complicates both reporting and remediation planning.
Key facts
- Manual actions for site reputation abuse no longer apply to EEA search results
- Enforcement continues unchanged outside the EEA
- Change follows regulatory pressure in Europe
- Confirmed directly on Google’s Search Central blog
FAQ
Does this mean parasite SEO is now allowed in Europe?
No — the underlying policy still exists. Google has simply chosen not to apply the ranking penalty specifically within EEA search results, while keeping it active everywhere else.
Will my existing manual action be lifted?
The manual action itself typically remains on record in Search Console; what changes is whether it affects rankings for EEA-based searchers.
Related reading
- Google’s Unconfirmed September 2026 Ranking Update
- Google’s New google.com/goto Redirects
- More Off-Page SEO coverage
Source: Google Search Central