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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

#261

Post by tannhaeuser »

vaishaksuresh wrote: post #241
TechRemarker wrote: post #140

At first it sounds insane that Google would do such a thing since while ad blocking is growing, enabling the feature natively especially by default would incredibly increase the number of ads blocked. My guess is, that where other blockers by default can easily block all google ads, Chrome blocker would not block Google Ads because it would classify them as acceptable. And Google would then hope that people would use…

I like how you see positive in this move, but all I can think of is this. Google will enable ads from google and block everything else. This is their way of killing the competition. I think it is unfair and risky. I don't want google or anybody else deciding what is acceptable ad for me. Even if it is not distracting or passes google's standard of 'good' ad, it should still be my choice that determines if I see it or…

Exactly. Not wanting to bash Google, but it's not in their best interest to block Google Ads is it? What'll happen is that Google Ads will be served using some super-sophisticated cloaking setup making AdBlockers ineffective on all but Google Ads. Like https, this will put alternative ad networks out of business.

It's not even difficult to do so, by eg. serving pages from a Google-controlled CloudFlare-like proxy service and/or a high-profile Google-style HTML-to-JavaScript encoder. Google's AMP project shows they're willing to throw the decentralized web under the bus.

The real question is: are you ok with ad-financed web sites in general, but have a problem with tracking (like me)? If so, we should really come up with a community-driven criteria for Acceptable Ads, or should disable un-vetted/not-whitelisted JavaScript alltogether.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#262

Post by JCharante »

CoryG89 wrote: post #180
forgotpwtomain wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On mobile Chrome does not support extensions while Firefox does. Recently on acquiring a new phone I used Chrome for a few days -- I had entirely forgotten how terrible the user-experience is without UBlock!

I always suspected the reason we never got extensions in mobile Chrome is that they didn't want the ad blockers. I wasn't aware that Firefox mobile started supporting them. Going to give it a try.

I thought it was because most app stores didn't allow apps to download code to be executed.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#263

Post by Zarel »

Eerie wrote: post #259
TechRemarker wrote: post #140

At first it sounds insane that Google would do such a thing since while ad blocking is growing, enabling the feature natively especially by default would incredibly increase the number of ads blocked. My guess is, that where other blockers by default can easily block all google ads, Chrome blocker would not block Google Ads because it would classify them as acceptable. And Google would then hope that people would use…

>where other blockers by default can easily block all Google ads Adblock Plus, the most popular adblocker, does not block Google ads by default, because they are considered non-intrusive.

As noted in the article, Google pays Adblock Plus an undisclosed amount of money to be considered non-intrusive. Adblock Plus is clearly not a neutral evaluator here.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#264

Post by mseebach »

pdog wrote: post #171
TechRemarker wrote: post #140

At first it sounds insane that Google would do such a thing since while ad blocking is growing, enabling the feature natively especially by default would incredibly increase the number of ads blocked. My guess is, that where other blockers by default can easily block all google ads, Chrome blocker would not block Google Ads because it would classify them as acceptable. And Google would then hope that people would use…

It's far more likely that Chrome's ad-blocking feature will be similar to the implementation of content blockers in Safari (introduced at a WWDC 2015 session)[1][2]. The new model for content blockers in Safari is faster and a lot more memory efficient because they're compiled into byte code. Content blockers are also more secure and better for privacy because they have no knowledge of the browsing that users are doi…

It's pretty clear that Google's strategy is that making the web better for everyone and everything is what will grow their ad business long term, rather than violently shoving as many ads as possible into their users faces as fast as possible. It's also pretty clear that they are capable of pursuing a long term strategy over chasing short-term cash.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#265

Post by batuhanw »

kesor wrote: post #198
TechRemarker wrote: post #140

At first it sounds insane that Google would do such a thing since while ad blocking is growing, enabling the feature natively especially by default would incredibly increase the number of ads blocked. My guess is, that where other blockers by default can easily block all google ads, Chrome blocker would not block Google Ads because it would classify them as acceptable. And Google would then hope that people would use…

The "ad blocker" companies will go out of business? ARE YOU INSANE?! Google is a frigging AD MONOPOLY ... its their major business for crying out loud. And the same company that controls a HUGE portion of all the Internet Ad business is creating an "Ad Blocker". And this doesn't ring any bells anywhere? No friend, they are not trying to put "ad blocker" companies out of business. They are trying to put "competing int…

This sounds like conspiracy. They can not block certain companies keep their ads unblocked. They will/should block certain type of ads, popups redirects malwares etc.

Also it is easier to block google ads with 3rd party. Since ridiculous ads will be blocked natively, performance will be better I think.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#266

Post by icebraining »

JCharante wrote: post #262
CoryG89 wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always suspected the reason we never got extensions in mobile Chrome is that they didn't want the ad blockers. I wasn't aware that Firefox mobile started supporting them. Going to give it a try.

I thought it was because most app stores didn't allow apps to download code to be executed.

Nah, that's just Apple's. Google Play has always been much less restrictive.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#267

Post by ptaipale »

sangnoir wrote: post #253
6t6t6t6 wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They are not trying to put "ad blocker" companies out of business. They are trying to put "competing internet ad companies" out of business. This. Internet is creating massive monopolies that are gathering an immense power that allow them to kill any other company that tries to compete with them. It's starting to be scary...

On one hand, I doubt Google would be so bold, considering the amount of attention they are currently getting from the European Commissioner of Competition. If Marine le Pen wins on the other hand...

This might be so, but I don't see it primarily as a problem with Google. I see it as a problem with the European Union, which is too much about French policies and politics and way of political operation.

Perhaps electing Le Pen might actually do some good to it by forcing others to change?

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#268

Post by Dylan16807 »

JCharante wrote: post #262
CoryG89 wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always suspected the reason we never got extensions in mobile Chrome is that they didn't want the ad blockers. I wasn't aware that Firefox mobile started supporting them. Going to give it a try.

I thought it was because most app stores didn't allow apps to download code to be executed.

What app store does that other than Apple's? And a rule like that doesn't allow full web browsers so it's unrelated to the question of whether full web browsers have extensions.

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#269

Post by jaipilot747 »

bmurphy1976 wrote: post #192
altern8tif wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Go with Brave on mobile ( https://www.brave.com/ ). They've got an ad-blocker built in.

Also, disable javascript by default. It's really easy to turn it on per-site using the brave button in the toolbar. The single best improvement I've made to my mobile browsing experience in years wasn't getting a new faster phone, it was installing Brave and disabling javascript.

For Firefox on Android I've been using JavaScript Toggle Enabled [1] for a while. Does what it says on the tin.

[1] https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/android/addon/toggle-javasc...

Re: Google plans ad-blocking feature in Chrome browser

#270

Post by Dylan16807 »

QuinnyPig wrote: post #164
TechRemarker wrote: post #140

At first it sounds insane that Google would do such a thing since while ad blocking is growing, enabling the feature natively especially by default would incredibly increase the number of ads blocked. My guess is, that where other blockers by default can easily block all google ads, Chrome blocker would not block Google Ads because it would classify them as acceptable. And Google would then hope that people would use…

I can't imagine this wouldn't lead to one hell of an antitrust lawsuit...

They don't have anything near a browser monopoly.
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