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Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

wsj.com

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Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#21

Post by refulgentis »

Sir_Substance wrote: post #11
krackers wrote: post #3

I suppose Google's own ad network will be unaffected, thereby "encouraging" sites to move to Google's network for a no-block guarantee?

Yup. I'm a big supporter of ad blockers, but this is a conflict of interest the size of Everest. If Google is really interested in ensuring good user experiences, they should work with the EFF to set up a fund of some kind to support this work, and then have EFF manage it.

I'm not sure offering prime position to a relatively random tech foundation that Google donates to will play better than relying on an independent advertising industry group. Given. A choice between indiscriminate regulation by a foundation of my industry, and an independent organization of an industry choosing to self-regulate, companies should prefer the second.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#22

Post by ortusdux »

My first instinct is that this feature will involve google contributor, where users can block ads and still send revenue to sites they frequent. https://contributor.google.com/

I went to check on the status of that program and got this message:

We’re launching a new and improved Contributor in early 2017!

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#23

Post by MichaelBurge »

aanm1988 wrote: post #6

How is it not a massive legal problem to have an ad company supplying the ad blocker, and deciding what gets blocked?

"How is it not" seems like a bad way to start a legal question, since everything is legal by default until someone passes a law prohibiting it. So there's usually no special reason at all for something to be legal.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#24

Post by lettergram »

seibelj wrote: post #5

As someone who uses ublock origin and has been blocking ads for many years, I will consider turning it off if this is effective. My problem is not with ads themselves, it's with terrible ads.

Google owns the largest ad network... I can't imagine this will be effective, because Google can already do this if they wanted.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#26

Post by lucasmullens »

gavinpc wrote: post #9

Who is clicking on these ads, anyway? I've never understood how this adds up to profit (for the advertisers).

A small percentage of users click ads that I assume make up for the users who don't.

And for the record, I click ads sometimes. Mainly on Facebook, because they're impressively relevant. I've discovered quite a few apps and products that I like through ads.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#27

Post by Klathmon »

aesthetics1 wrote: post #12

"In one possible application Google is considering, it may choose to block all advertising that appears on sites with offending ads, instead of the individual offending ads themselves. In other words, site owners may be required to ensure all of their ads meet the standards, or could see all advertising across their sites blocked in Chrome." I like this approach. It punishes site owners for running malicious or badly…

I like this approach as well. But sadly it will be fought by many who believe all ads to be "offending", and will declare Google as even more "evil" because of it.

But I think this is a great step to stop the "race to the bottom".

Right now there is no incentive for an ad network to make "well behaved" ads. Most of the "ad blocking crowd" will block them regardless of how nice they are, and advertisers will pay less for them, and site owners don't care because the money gets better the scummier the ads are.

By auto-blocking sites with the worst offenders at the browser level they can start to push all sides toward wanting "better" ads. It gives networks, advertisers, and site owners all incentive to make sure their ads are unobtrusive and safe.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#29

Post by oDot »

aesthetics1 wrote: post #12

"In one possible application Google is considering, it may choose to block all advertising that appears on sites with offending ads, instead of the individual offending ads themselves. In other words, site owners may be required to ensure all of their ads meet the standards, or could see all advertising across their sites blocked in Chrome." I like this approach. It punishes site owners for running malicious or badly…

I like it too, but isn't Google in a conflict of interest here?

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#30

Post by GhotiFish »

seibelj wrote: post #5

As someone who uses ublock origin and has been blocking ads for many years, I will consider turning it off if this is effective. My problem is not with ads themselves, it's with terrible ads.

some terrible ads don't look terrible, but instead behave terribly. Violating your privacy, Consuming your bandwidth, ect. How would you recognize these except to audit them yourself? If you read the criteria from the coalition for better ads:

    ...the following types of ad experiences fell beneath the initial
    Better Ads Standard: pop-up ads, prestitial ads, ads with density 
    greater than 30%, flashing animated ads, auto-play video ads with 
    sound, poststitial ads with countdown, full-screen scrollover ads, and 
    large sticky ads.
In other words, privacy compromising is not considered bad behavior. Nor is exorbitant use of bandwidth, It seems their focus is merely on what the average consumer would consider toxic.

same source as the story: https://www.betterads.org/coalition-for-better-ads-releases-...

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