Google says it is expanding its policies to crack down on websites that trap users through “back button hijacking.”
Back button hijacking happens when a website interferes with a browser’s navigation so that the back button no longer returns users to the previous page. Instead, it may keep them on the same site or redirect them to unwanted pages, often including unsolicited ads.
In a blog post, the company behind the Chrome browser said it has observed a “rise of this type of behaviour” and is taking action in response.
From 15 June, the tactic will be classified as a “malicious practice,” meaning websites that continue using it could be downgraded in search rankings or even removed from Google Search results.
“Back button hijacking interferes with the browser’s functionality, breaks the expected user journey, and results in user frustration,” Google said, adding that users often feel manipulated and become less willing to visit unfamiliar sites.
Examples of the practice include techniques that insert misleading or manipulative pages into a user’s browser history, preventing them from returning to the previous page normally.
Adam Thompson, director of digital at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, said the move is understandable, noting that such practices undermine basic user experience and break user expectations of how the web should work.
Snapchat owner cuts 1,000 jobs, saying AI will reduce repetitive work and improve efficiency
Snap, the company behind Snapchat, has cut around 1,000 jobs—about 16% of its workforce—while citing the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reducing repetitive tasks.
Co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel told staff that the company is going through a “crucible moment” and that the layoffs are aimed at cutting roughly $500 million (£368 million) in annual costs.
He said remaining employees will increasingly rely on AI tools to “reduce repetitive work and increase velocity,” with smaller teams already using this approach in recent months.
Spiegel also acknowledged that the changes will be difficult, saying such a major shift “is never easy and it will not be seamless.”
This marks at least the third major round of layoffs at the company since 2022, when it cut about 20% of its workforce.
The move also comes amid pressure from investors, including activist firm Irenic Capital Management, which recently questioned why the company remains unprofitable despite having hundreds of millions of monthly users.
Google to penalize websites that trap users using back button manipulation tricks
