Google’s New Deadline: Why Your Site’s “Back Button” Could Get You De-Indexed by June 15

Google Search Central announced a policy declaring the tactical hijacking of the browser back button a malicious practice; sites that implement scripts to trap users, force redirects, or insert deceptive pages into browser history may face manual or algorithmic demotion up to full de-indexing if they fail to comply by June 15, 2026. The notice frames the behavior as harmful to user experience, particularly on mobile, and warns site operators of penalties for continued use of such coercive navigation tactics.