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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

#81

Post by derefr »

nugget wrote: post #35
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…

> It punishes site owners for running malicious or badly-behaved ads. There's no way that Google can effectively be police, judge, jury, and executioner all at the same time, given their own massive conflicts of interest.

They already serve in those same roles, though, when "SEO spam" sites get blocked from Google Search results.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#82

Post by sjg007 »

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.

Except it's your device, you can choose to block ads.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#83

Post by nialv7 »

kenshaw wrote: post #4

My cynical side can't help but think they will do this first, then later disable uBlock / other ad blockers (or the APIs they rely on) and claim that "we can do it better." I can't imagine that this isn't a violation of some kind of law (RICO, antitrust, or otherwise), but I don't imagine this would ever be prosecuted.

And then they can just block all ads except those provided by Google...

They are trying to be both the player and the judge at the same time.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#84

Post by jacques_chester »

ortusdux wrote: post #22

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!

That would place pressure on advertisers outside of Google's network to switch, yes.

Edit: though from the article it really does seem much more benign.

Disclosure: I am working on what is, ostensibly, a competing product.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#85

Post by ohyeshedid »

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.

Perhaps it is, but if there were the case why wouldn't they start by cleaning up their own platforms?

There are several angles to be wary of. Locking out competitors, replacing competitor ads with their own, forcing sites to migrate to, or back to, Google ad networks, etc.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#86

Post by mpeg »

gigatexal wrote: post #33

Whoa. A company where 85%+ of its revenue comes from ads and over that owns a really popular browser is going to block ads? Could be a power play to give Google even more control over advertisers

This isn't about controlling advertiser spend at all. It's about controlling publisher supply.

Publishers have other choices for ad supply, Google is not the most lucrative, but it's the best for high volume so it's everywhere, because people need to get their fill rates.

If a major browser like Chrome starts punishing publishers for not policing their supply, it'll only benefit the big networks.

(I'm actually very skeptical of this article's claims...)

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#87

Post by hackuser »

Who is the Coalition for Better Ads? Their About page gives no names. Is Google a member? How influential is Google? Whose interests does the Coalition serve?

https://www.betterads.org/about/

"Leading international trade associations and companies involved in online media ..."

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#88

Post by JohnJamesRambo »

This would be fantastic. I finally installed Adblock Plus and I feel bad about it, but I had had enough. I couldn't even see content on legitimate webpages anymore through all the pop up ads and auto start videos. I don't mind normal ads but it was getting ridiculous. The arms race had tipped too far to the ad providers. I just want to block the ridiculous, which is what this sounds like it would do.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#89

Post by derefr »

kenshaw wrote: post #4

My cynical side can't help but think they will do this first, then later disable uBlock / other ad blockers (or the APIs they rely on) and claim that "we can do it better." I can't imagine that this isn't a violation of some kind of law (RICO, antitrust, or otherwise), but I don't imagine this would ever be prosecuted.

There's really no way to disable all ad-blocking in a browser, even if the browser-vendor wanted desperately to do so, because—whether ad-stripping browser extensions exist or not—ad-stripping HTTP proxies (e.g. Privoxy) will always exist.

And if you think users couldn't handle using one of those, there's nothing stopping someone from making an e.g. "Privoxy configurator + blocklist updater" browser extension that just serves as a client GUI to your ad-stripping proxy's control channel. (Or giving the daemon a system-tray icon that launches an Electron GUI or something.)

The development of ad-blockers outside of the browser kind of stalled ~5 years ago, but only because everyone has been pretty satisfied with the browser extension solution to the problem. Take it away, and other solutions will just come back into play, with all the modern lessons learned from building the browser-extensions brought in.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#90

Post by claroscuro »

If you go to a restaurant and order a salad, you're not obligated to eat the olives, and you have the right to take them off your plate.

Likewise, you have the right to bring an intermediary who looks at your salad and hides all the olives for you.

If your intermediary happens to work for Green Olive Co. and he hides the black olives but not the green ones, you have the right to switch to another intermediary. Or get another intermediary who checks the plate and hides the rest of the olives. Or do whatever you want, because you're not obligated to consume any part of the salad that you don't want to.

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