Google (crawling infrastructure)
Google (crawling infrastructure): Entity Summary
Google documents experimental Web Bot Auth support for its crawling infrastructure: Google crawlers can sign their HTTP requests so that origin servers can verify they originate from Google.
Google (crawling infrastructure): Core Facts
- Operator
- Google LLC (crawling infrastructure)
- Role
- Agent operator (Google crawlers and fetchers)
- Signing status
- Documented as experimental by Google for its crawlers
- Public key directory
- An internal directory endpoint exists (datapy.googleplex.com) behind Google SSO; public verification not possible as of 2026-08-27
- Verification path
- Google publishes guidance for verifying its signatures; wide public verification pending a reachable public directory
Google (crawling infrastructure): Classification Metadata
- Entity Class
- Agent Operator
- Last verified
Google (crawling infrastructure): Not Identical To
Google's crawling infrastructure is not identical to Google Search the product, not identical to Googlebot reverse-DNS verification (the legacy verification method), and not identical to Google LLC as a company. Web Bot Auth support is documented as experimental and complements, not replaces, the established verification mechanisms.
Google (crawling infrastructure): FAQ
Can I verify Google crawler signatures today?
Google documents how servers authenticate its requests with Web Bot Auth, but the key directory is not publicly reachable. The legacy reverse-DNS method for Googlebot remains the general verification path.