Google acquired Metaweb back on July 16, 2010, which powered Freebase. Freebase is one of the sources of data Google uses to power their Knowledge Graph. Many SEOs were able to manipulate the knowledge graph details by editing Freebase data.

Yesterday Freebase announced on Google+ that they will be shutting their doors and closing down. Before they do so, they will migrate their data and APIs to Wikipedia’s Wikidata. Freebase wrote:

You have to assume that Google will quickly update their knowledge graph API source to feed off the new Wikidata API. Google owns Freebase, so it makes sense they will be one of the first to see the API and hook in.

The bigger concern is how will the data get updated going forward? Will the same volunteers continue their work in the Wikipedia community? Will the knowledge graph get any worse because of it? Will it get better if new controls are in place to reduce SEO input? These are the concerns SEOs have when they hear this news.

Here is the timeline listed by Freebase on the changes:

Before the end of March 2015
Launch a Wikidata import review tool
Announce a transition plan for the Freebase Search API & Suggest Widget to a Knowledge Graph-based solution

March 31, 2015
Freebase as a service will become read-only
The website will no longer accept edits
Retire the MQL write API

June 30, 2015
Retire the Freebase website and APIs
The last Freebase data dump will remain available, but developers should check out the Wikidata dump

Are you concerned? If so, why?

Forum discussion at Google+.