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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

#71

Post by bitmapbrother »

oDot wrote: post #29
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?

How so? If the ad does not abide by the Coalition for Better Ads standards then it's not displayed. And if your ad doesn't meet those standards then you probably shouldn't be advertising with Google.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#72

Post by whyleyc »

lucasmullens wrote: post #28
axtscz wrote: post #2

My guess is that Google ads would be whitelisted?

They're following a standard: https://www.betterads.org/standards/ Seems like a safe bet they wouldn't serve ads that would get blocked.

Except they don't follow that standard:

http://www.groundup.org.za/article/why-were-dropping-google-...

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#73

Post by kyledrake »

dcow wrote: post #45
oDot wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

No because all of their ads will meet standards. I wouldn't be surprised if a competing lower-quality ad agency sues Google over this.

It will meet their "standards", which in the past have not prevented Google ads from being used for a lot of different types of nasty, malicious activity.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvertising

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#74

Post by Klathmon »

aanm1988 wrote: post #69
Klathmon wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Or it will be seen as another power grab by google. I'm not saying it's a move that hurts consumers, I'm saying I see it as a power grab and yet more control over the web being handed over. I'm unconvinced that relying on a coalition to set standards is enough of a gap.

That's a fair thing to be worried about, and I think if this were to move forward I'd really like to see at least one other browser implement it to the same standard, or perhaps some agreement on what constitutes "bad" ads from a few other networks.

But I don't think that's a good reason to fight it from the start.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#75

Post by xienze »

bpicolo wrote: post #66
aethr wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is the conflict of interest. It's hard to see how this isn't going to strengthen their position in the ad serving market. Google being able to define where the bar for "badly behaving" is set means that only their competitors will be hurt by this.

I wonder if the motivation isn't a bit more subtle than that. My guess would be they're hoping to improve ads across the web so that people turn off ad blockers in general.

And if they can gimp their competitors at the same time, bonus!

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#77

Post by bitmapbrother »

aethr wrote: post #48
libria wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The opposite, I would say. Google has strict guidelines for ad creative content and polices its ads as well; they're almost certainly above their own bar. So this is essentially threatening to block everyone else, or at least those behaving poorly.

That is the conflict of interest. It's hard to see how this isn't going to strengthen their position in the ad serving market. Google being able to define where the bar for "badly behaving" is set means that only their competitors will be hurt by this.

Google isn't defining anything unilaterally - the Coalition for Better Ads is.

https://www.betterads.org/standards/

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#78

Post by hackuser »

andrewmutz wrote: post #61
oDot wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

It is interesting. It seems to me that it could be considered to be monopoly abuse and it also seems to be pro-consumer. A strange combination.

> It seems to me that it could be considered to be monopoly abuse and it also seems to be pro-consumer.

The move only is pro-consumer where it benefits Google's bottom line: Blocking competitors ads, using a standard that Google easily meets. It's similar to when countries block agricultural imports that don't meet a standard that is unique to their domestic industry, in the name of "safety".

For example, I don't expect Google to block ads that violate users' privacy by tracking them. But I hope they surprise me!

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#80

Post by hackuser »

bitmapbrother wrote: post #77
aethr wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is the conflict of interest. It's hard to see how this isn't going to strengthen their position in the ad serving market. Google being able to define where the bar for "badly behaving" is set means that only their competitors will be hurt by this.

Google isn't defining anything unilaterally - the Coalition for Better Ads is. https://www.betterads.org/standards/

Yes, but there are probably other standards that Google's ads don't meet, and Google isn't using those.
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