Best SEO Checklist
ONE FOCUSED ACTION

Ensure news content avoids promotion of dangerous or illegal activities.

Google News optimization

1 checklist items

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    Why this matters

    Google News disallows content promoting such activities to protect user safety and compliance.

    A STARTING-POINT EXAMPLE

    Hypothetical standard operating procedure

    Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.

    1. Audit news content for mentions of illegal or harmful acts
    2. Remove or rephrase content that could be interpreted as promotion
    3. Set editorial guidelines prohibiting such content
    4. Run periodic compliance training for editorial teams
    5. Monitor feedback and user reports for violations

    Watch for

    Promotion of these activities risks delisting and reputational damage.

    Definition of done

    News articles contain no encouragement or facilitation of illegal or dangerous behavior.

    Sources & attribution

    1. Content policies | News on Google Assistant ↗

    Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.