# Google search no longer reports search terms to linked sites

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search-no-longer-reports-search-terms-to-linked-sites/672497>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 28, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search-no-longer-reports-search-terms-to-linked-sites/672497 "2013-10-28T22:44:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search-no-longer-reports-search-terms-to-linked-sites/672497/1 "2013-10-28T22:44:46Z")

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This is about a month old and has probably already been mentioned here someplace but I couldn’t find it.

> [@](#):
>
> Late this month, [Google went “dark” in terms of providing publishers](http://searchengineland.com/post-prism-google-secure-searches-172487) with one of its major sources of free information on which words led people searching in Google to click on their sites. The move came as [Google seeks to reassure users following the NSA/PRISM](http://searchengineland.com/post-prism-google-secure-searches-172487) domestic surveillance scandal. Now, all Google search is securely encrypted, and web site owners can no longer look at Google Analytics to see exactly which words people use when searching Google to find their sites.

[source](http://www.businessinsider.com/google-ended-free-organic-search-keyword-data-2013-10)

According the article linked to in the quote, this does not apply to ads that are clicked on though.

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**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search-no-longer-reports-search-terms-to-linked-sites/672497/2 "2013-11-01T02:22:09Z")

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Interesting. Thank you.

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**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search-no-longer-reports-search-terms-to-linked-sites/672497/3 "2013-11-01T02:36:13Z")

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Sure, cheers. I figured it might be of particular interest to people who find that they need to search forums on a regular basis - especially if what they’re searching for might tend to give an indication of their identity. 🙂

edit: of course that’s not the only reason. It’s privacy concerns in general, but that was the example I had in mind.