# Google Link Spam Update December 2022

[Christoph C. Cemper](https://www.christophcemper.com/) | 14 Dec, 2022 | 12 Jan, 2023 | 4 Mins Read

Auch verfügbar in Deutsch: [Google Link Spam Update Dezember 2022](/content/de/blog/link-spam-update-december-2022/index.html)

## **December 2022 link spam update**  
Google has [announced on December 14, 2022](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/12/december-22-link-spam-update) the link spam update as one of the few official link spam updates we recall for years. It uses SpamBrain.

**UPDATE:** Google has announced [the LinkSpam Update finished on January 12, 2023](https://developers.google.com/search/updates/ranking#:~:text=affects%20all%20languages.-,The%20rollout%20was%20complete%20as%20of%20January%2012%2C%202023.,-December%205%2C)

This quite new, as Google has labeled everything happening around link penalties as “Core update” for years now. And Penguin-based Link Spam updates moved to the Google Core [end of 2016](/content/kb/penguin-faq/index.html).

Google say, that they are using their [SpamBrain system](https://www.google.com/search?q=SpamBrain) to detect spam directly.

Google also say that SpamBrain can now detect both:

- sites buying links, and
- sites used for the purpose of passing outgoing links.

Of course, that was the claim of all the prior link-based penalty filters, even before [Google Penguin](/content/kb/penguin-faq/index.md#google-penguin "Google Penguin was a major algorithm update that was first released in April 2012."/index.html), and we’ve been around for… _cough_…long enough to have heard them all.

It also just shows and confirms once again, how dependent Google is on links.

Gary Illyes said it in 2016 already, [Ranking without links is really, really hard. Yes, the external links.](/content/kb/rankings/#ranking-without-links-is-really-difficult/index.html)

**Have you been hit?**

If **yes**, sorry to hear that. Would you be interested in helping our research, to gain some insights? We would like to include you in my research, of course using our [Link Detox®](/content/seo-tools/link-detox/index.html), part of the LRT Suite. We are currently just working in fine-tuning and recalibrating again, so that’s a great timing for us. If **yes**, just [let us know via the contact form](/content/contact/index.html). We’ll get back with some questions.

## FAQ about the Link Spam Update December 2022

### Is the Link Spam Update December 2022 a Manual Action?

@johnmu confirmed that this it is not a [Manual Action](/content/kb/google-penalty/index.md#what-are-google-penalties "Google Penalties are also called Manual Action by Google."/index.html).  
> No, it’s not a manual action.

#### Was SpamBrain used by Google for Link Spam before?

@searchliaison confirmed that this is the first time Google uses SpamBrain for link spam.  
> It’s possible we’ve used it in some edge / minor situations, but this is the first real implementation of it for link spam.

## Some feedback on the Link Spam Update December 2022

90% of the websites this SEO manages have changed.

## More resources

- [SEL on the Link Spam Update December 2022](https://searchengineland.com/google-releases-december-2022-link-spam-update-390336)

## Link Spam Update December 2022 FAQ Summary

Is the Link Spam Update December 2022 a [Manual Action](/content/kb/google-penalty/index.md#what-are-google-penalties "Google Penalties are also called Manual Action by Google."/index.html)?

No. John Muller of Google confirmed that the Link Spam Update December 2022 it is not a [Manual Action](/content/kb/google-penalty/index.md#what-are-google-penalties "Google Penalties are also called Manual Action by Google."/index.html).

Was SpamBrain used by Google for Link Spam before?

No. Searchliaison (Danny Sullivan) confirmed that this is the first time Google uses SpamBrain for link spam.