Effective: October 22, 2026 · Last updated: October 22, 2026
We make mistakes. When we do, we fix them quickly, openly and on the record.
How to report an error
Email [email protected], or use the Report an error link at the end of every article. It helps if you include:
- the article URL and the passage in question;
- what you believe is wrong, and what is correct;
- a source, if you have one.
You do not need to give your name, but we may not be able to follow up without a way to reach you.
What happens next
- We acknowledge reports within 24 hours.
- We aim to correct confirmed factual errors within two business days of confirming them.
- If an error affects a headline finding of a study or the Index, we add a notice at the top of the page while we investigate.
Who decides
The editor-in-chief reviews every report against the original sources and decides whether a correction is needed. If you disagree with our decision, reply to our response and we will review it again.
How corrections appear
We never change substantive facts silently. Every change is labeled:
- Correction: we published something factually wrong. The notice states what was wrong and what is right.
- Clarification: what we published was accurate but could be misunderstood. The notice explains the change.
- Update: new information has become available since publication.
Notices appear at the top of the article for serious errors and at the end for minor ones, with the date (UTC). We do not count typos, broken links or formatting fixes as corrections.
Newsletter and social media
If an error appeared in The Visibility Brief, we correct it in the web archive of that issue and note it in the next issue. If it appeared in one of our social media posts, we post a correction from the same account and, where the platform allows, link it to the original post.
Research and data
If an error affects published research or a dataset, we:
- correct the article and release a new version of the dataset with a version number and change note;
- keep the earlier version available so others can see what changed;
- publish an explanation when the error changes a conclusion;
- make reasonable efforts to tell people we know have cited the affected figure.
Corrections log
All corrections and clarifications are listed here, newest first.
| Date (UTC) | Article | Type | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-28 | Google says robots.txt governs crawling, not use, and lists its AI Search controls | Clarification | Named Google’s Gary Illyes as the speaker of the quoted remarks, as reported by Search Engine Journal; earlier wording attributed them to Google’s Search Relations team. |
| 2026-10-28 | Google Search ads now carry AI-written review summaries that are positive only | Clarification | Clarified that advertisers cannot “directly” edit the summaries, matching Google’s help page. |