--- title: "Google warns against fake author profiles in its guidance" url: https://seomadman.com/news/google-fake-author-profiles-warning section: news language: en published: 2026-10-02T00:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-10-02T00:00:00.000Z author: Adam Hafez topics: ["Content strategy", "Core updates"] --- # Google warns against fake author profiles in its guidance ## The short answer Google's helpful content page now warns against deceptive authorship information. In the version dated 1 October 2026, it calls fabricated creator profiles, such as AI-generated headshots, made-up names or false credentials, a form of deception. It says deception makes a page untrustworthy to users and to Google's automated quality systems. ## Key takeaways - The new paragraph sits in the "Who (created the content)" section, right after the advice to add accurate authorship information such as bylines. - Google names AI-generated headshots, made-up names and false credentials as examples of fabricated creator profiles. - Google says any form of deception makes a page untrustworthy to both users and its automated quality systems, and is a signal of a low-quality page. - Search Engine Journal reports that the rater guidelines already treat fake profiles as deception, and that the paragraph does not say how automated systems detect them. Google added a paragraph to its "Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content" page, in the version dated 1 October 2026. It follows the page's advice to add accurate authorship information, and it was reported by [Search Engine Journal](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-fake-author-warning-site-owner-guidance/591806/) on 2 October 2026. ## What does the new paragraph say? Google's page reads: "However, avoid using deceptive authorship information. Fabricating creator profiles (such as by using AI-generated headshots, made-up names, or false credentials to make content appear as if it was written by human experts) is a form of deception." It continues that any form of deception makes a page untrustworthy to both users and its automated quality systems, and is a signal of a low-quality page. Search Engine Journal reports that a copy of the page saved on 8 June has no such paragraph. ## Is this new for raters? Not in substance. Search Engine Journal says section 4.5.3 of the rater guidelines already treats fake creator profiles, AI-generated author images and false claims of expertise as deception, and tells raters to give such pages the Lowest rating. What changed is that the same idea now appears in guidance written for site owners. ## What does it not say? The paragraph does not say how Google's automated systems would identify a fabricated profile. Search Engine Journal also points out that the same page says raters have no control over rankings, while the new text refers to automated quality systems. It does not say bylines help rankings either. Search Engine Journal recalls that Google's Search Liaison account said in January 2024 that bylines do not help pages rank better. The page still encourages accurate bylines where readers expect them. ## What should you check on bylines? Read the paragraph as a checklist for the "Who" part of a page. These are our reading of the guidance, not Google instructions: - Is the name on the byline a real person who wrote or stands behind the piece? - Is the photo of that person, rather than an AI-generated headshot? - Do the credentials in the bio match what the author actually holds? Search Engine Journal makes the same point: author pages and bylines are where a name, photo or credential could create a false impression of human expertise. The same page also gained a [main content section](/news/google-helpful-content-main-content-section), and Google [updated its generative AI content guidance](/news/google-ai-content-guidance-factcheck-critical) in the same window. For the wider topic, see our [content strategy hub](/topics/content-strategy). ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Google say about fake author profiles? Google says fabricating creator profiles, such as with AI-generated headshots, made-up names or false credentials to make content look like it was written by human experts, is a form of deception that makes a page untrustworthy. ### Does Google say how it detects a fabricated profile? No. Search Engine Journal notes the paragraph refers to automated quality systems but does not say how they would identify a fabricated profile. ### Do bylines help a page rank? Search Engine Journal reports that Google's Search Liaison account said in January 2024 that bylines do not help pages rank better. Google's page still encourages accurate authorship information where readers expect it. ## Sources 1. [Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content) - Google Search Central (primary) 2. [Google Adds Fake Author Warning To Helpful Content Guidance](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-fake-author-warning-site-owner-guidance/591806/) - Search Engine Journal