Google Search scraping is becoming more challenging, and SEO rank tracking is feeling the pressure. Recently, changes made to how Google’s Search results are delivered have affected data collection for several SEO platforms, as Google proceeds to strengthen controls on unauthorized automated access to Google search.
The existing data collection of Google Search is experiencing renewed disruption in September 2026, with SEO platforms being reported to be in growing difficulty accessing search-result data.
As reported, Nozzle is estimated to have an 80% drop in the Google Search data it could retrieve. Additionally, SISTRIX confirmed that its own collection was running at a reduced rate after changes to how Google delivers Search results.
The developments are significant for Google Search scraping, SEO rank tracking, and Google ranking data. However, current evidence does not confirm that Google has launched a targeted industry-wide campaign against SEO tools.
What We Know About Google’s Search Changes
Here are the key developments reported so far:
1. Nozzle
Nozzle reports that most attempts to retrieve Google Search data were being blocked. The estimate is an 80% reduction in the data it could obtain.
2. SISTRIX
On September 16, 2026, additional changes to Google Search-result delivery reduced its data-collection rate.
3. Google
The search spam policies of Google define automated Search queries that are unauthorized, including scraping results for rank-checking goals, as bot-generated traffic.
4. ‘google.com/goto’ Redirects
In August, Google was rolling out technical steps that route Search-result links through these redirects.
And the distinction matters, as it has been confirmed by Google about changes to Search-result delivery. However, nothing was made public while it specifically targeted SEO rank trackers.
Why Google Search Scraping Is Getting Harder
SEO platforms rely on automated collection of Search results to monitor keyword rankings, competitor visibility, and SERP changes. That process can become more complicated when Google changes how results are delivered.
Google has been making changes to Search-result delivery for about a year. It identifies the removal of the num=100 parameter in September 2025 as one major change, followed by further changes in the months since.
Google’s redirect mechanism can hide the destination URL from the Search result itself. SISTRIX resolves those redirects to identify the target website, but says each resolution requires an additional request, making large-scale SERP scraping more complex and expensive.
SISTRIX said processing returned to normal on September 1 after adapting to the redirect change. However, on September 16, it reported another change that again reduced its collection rate.
What Do google.com/goto Redirects Do?
google.com/goto redirect pages are Google’s intermediary between some Search-result links and their destination pages.
For most users, the change is largely invisible. For SEO tools that collect Search results at scale, however, resolving these redirects can make data collection more complex and resource-intensive.
Results no longer directly reveal the destination URL and require an additional request to Google. However, Google has not described this rollout as a specific action against SEO rank trackers.
Is Google Blocking SEO Rank Trackers?
Several SEO platforms have restricted access to Google Search data, but there is no confirmed evidence that Google is broadly “blocking SEO tools.”
As per reports, both SISTRIX and Nozzle have data-collection disruptions, while Google describes its steps as efforts to protect Search from abuse. Differences between SEO platforms have also been reported, but these do not establish an industry-wide crackdown.
Why SEO Ranking Data May Look Different
Third-party rank trackers collect Google Search data through their own systems. When collection is disrupted, reports may show:
- Missing or delayed data
- Unusual ranking changes
- Platform-to-platform differences
- Gaps in ranking timeline
Constant ranking fluctuations reported by tracking tools may not always reflect actual Google rankings. So, make sure to verify it with additional data.
How to Check Your Google Ranking Data
SEO teams can reduce the risk of misreading disrupted rank-tracking data by comparing several signals.
1 Google Search Console
Use Google’s first-party Search data to check whether changes in clicks, impressions, and Search performance support what a third-party rank tracker is reporting.
2 Website Analytics
Check organic traffic alongside ranking reports. If a tool shows a major visibility decline but website traffic remains stable, investigate the discrepancy before making SEO changes.
3 Multiple SEO Tools
Compare data from more than one ranking platform. Differences can reveal potential collection or processing issues, although they do not automatically prove which platform is correct.
4 Manual SERP Checks
For important keywords, manual Google searches can provide an additional snapshot. Results can vary by location, device, and other factors, so manual checks should complement rather than replace systematic tracking.
What the September 2026 Reports Show
| Development | What Has Been Reported |
| Nozzle Data Drop | Nozzle reported approximately an 80% decrease in retrievable Google Search data. |
| SISTRIX Collection | SISTRIX reported reduced data collection on September 16. |
| Search Redirects | Google confirmed the rollout of the google.com/goto redirect mechanism in Search. |
| Automated Scraping | Google says automated Search scraping for rank checking without permission violates its policies and Terms of Service. |
| Industry Impact | Current reports do not establish a uniform impact across all SEO tools. |
What This Means for SEO Professionals
The very first lesson to be learned by SEO professionals is to never rely on just one ranking dataset, especially during times of Search-data disruption.
If a rank tracker immediately reports a significant ranking loss, compare it with Google Search Console, organic traffic, and other available ranking sources when a change appears unusually big or happens across many keywords at once.
In addition, SEO professionals need to seek their ranking provider’s status updates. If a ranking platform notifies a reduction in data collection, unusual ranking fluctuations should be interpreted cautiously while data collection remains disrupted.
The Bigger SEO Data Challenge
The news of this September about Google search scraping is not just an episode but part of a bigger picture on how Google Search results are delivered.
SISTRIX states Google has been making changes for about a year, including the removal of num=100 in September 2025 and ongoing changes in how Search results are served.
For SEO platforms, this means that Google Search scraping and SERP data collection needs frequent technical adaptation.
And marketers should know how ranking figures should be assessed in the context of the methodology used to generate them.
The question is no longer only, “What position does my website have?”
It’s about, “How was that ranking data collected, and is the data currently complete?”
Bottom Line
In September 2026, Google Search scraping and SEO rank tracking are confronting new technical challenges.
Nozzle has been reported to have approximately an 80% drop in the Google Search data it could retrieve, while another thing confirmed by SISTRIX about how its own collection was running at a reduced rate after subsequent changes to Search result data delivery.
Google has confirmed that its redirect system is being rolled out as restrictions on unauthorized automated search access continue. This involves scraping for rank-checking purposes. However, the evidence does not establish a single industry-wide impact or confirm that every SEO tool is being blocked.
For now, SEO professionals should cross-check unusual Google ranking data against first-party Search data, website analytics, and other additional sources.
Lastly, it’s all about gathering Google Search results at a level that is becoming technically complex, and SEO data providers are adapting to a constantly shifting Search landscape.
