is google actually detecting pbn footprints now?

In 2014 you could build a PBN with expired domains and Google wouldn't notice. Now I'm seeing domains with zero footprints getting deindexed anyway.

Google is getting better at detecting patterns that humans can't see. The question is whether they're detecting the PBN itself or just the unnatural link patterns.

Anyone still running successful PBNs, or is this tactic dead?

How are you defining 'zero footprints'?

Different registrars, different hosting, different content themes, natural link velocity. All the things that used to work.

Depends what you're running, but PBNs still work if you do them right. The issue is that most people don't do them right.

The footprints aren't technical — they're behavioral. If you have 50 domains all linking to the same money site with the same anchor patterns, Google doesn't need to look at the WHOIS. The link graph tells them everything.

pbns are dead for 99% of people

I stopped using PBNs two years ago and moved to guest posts and niche edits. It's more expensive but the results are more stable. Google can easily flip a switch and deindex a PBN network, but legitimate sites are harder to target.