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How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

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Re: How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

#141

Post by rdiddly »

mabbo wrote: post #89

I think there's good intentions by Google here. That said, let's talk about the worst-case scenario, the thing that Google could actually do that is entirely anti-competitive. Step 1: Google finds a large number of competitors who are doing pretty well playing by their rules. Google finds some trait they all have in common. Google then modifies their own ads to not have that trait. Step 2: Google declares the given t…

Seems like they would find themselves in court over it if they played it like that.

Re: How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

#142

Post by tyfon »

MereInterest wrote: post #13

Google's incentives here are still antithetical to my own, so I'm going to stick with uBlock. For example, on Google search, ads masquerade as legitimate search results. These used to be highlighted in light yellow, clearly marking them as different from organic search results. Now, they only have the word "Ad" in light grey text. This notice is on the right, intentionally where it will be overlooked when reading thr…

> I'm going to stick with uBlock.

Same, and that is on Firefox too (both mobile and pc).

I don't understand companies, when I run some ad-block I clearly state that I _do not want to see ads_. Period.

It doesn't matter the format or how it looks, I just don't want too see ads and I get pissed if I do so it's actually bad for the company advertising.

Re: How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

#143

Post by dao- »

eli wrote: post #136
drngdds wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like there's a simpler explanation that's still not 'good intentions': 1. Lots of people are using adblockers to block all ads, including Google's, and they don't like that. 2. People mostly install adblockers to block really annoying ads.* 3. By building in an adblocker that blocks annoying ads, people will stop installing full adblockers that also block Google's ads. *There are real issues with non-annoying…

If people no longer feel the need to install a stronger ad blocker why is that bad?

Because there's still the privacy problem that many don't fully understand.

That's why Mozilla's approach is tracking protection which also happens to block annoying ads.

But yes, if the concern is only bringing in line what people "feel" with the product you want to sell, then Google's strategy makes perfect sense.

Re: How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

#144

Post by nukeop »

Google as an advertising company has been putting its pieces into place for years now. Now is the final step of their plan of total takeover of the WWW.

Once you have the dominant browser and you're the largest ad provider on the internet, you can start actively destroying competition by declaring their ads "intrusive", and simply "bad", and blocking them. Since you have control over web standards and most of the browsers in the world, you hold everyone else by their balls. They either play by your rules, or they don't get to play at all. You can stifle all competition, completely, forever. Anything you do at this stage only tightens your grip on the internet.

Re: How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

#146

Post by nukeop »

fauigerzigerk wrote: post #124
mabbo wrote: post #89

I think there's good intentions by Google here. That said, let's talk about the worst-case scenario, the thing that Google could actually do that is entirely anti-competitive. Step 1: Google finds a large number of competitors who are doing pretty well playing by their rules. Google finds some trait they all have in common. Google then modifies their own ads to not have that trait. Step 2: Google declares the given t…

That's a valid concern, but it's also a very obvious one, and Google already being in the crosshairs of regulators will certainly be aware of it. They are clearly prepared to counter any such allegation in two ways. 1) It's not Google alone setting the standard. The "coalition for better ads" also includes Facebook, Microsoft and many others: https://www.betterads.org/members/ 2) The rules are few and reasonably simp…

The coalition of marketing giants. I'm sure they're only thinking of us and what's best for us when setting their "standards".

Re: How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

#147

Post by tyingq »

dhimes wrote: post #135
mabbo wrote: post #89

I think there's good intentions by Google here. That said, let's talk about the worst-case scenario, the thing that Google could actually do that is entirely anti-competitive. Step 1: Google finds a large number of competitors who are doing pretty well playing by their rules. Google finds some trait they all have in common. Google then modifies their own ads to not have that trait. Step 2: Google declares the given t…

Google is absolutely going down the wrong path here. They could blow Amazon away with one simple move that would benefit users AND, especially, advertisers. The problem with online ads and the reason that things are getting scummier and scummier is that they simply don't work very well for the advertiser. Most clicks are bogus; most prospects are unqualified. That's how Amazon wins: when you click Amazon, you are a b…

They do this already, albeit with the second click, not the first. https://imgur.com/a/M1SbG

Re: How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

#148

Post by rodorgas »

dhimes wrote: post #135
mabbo wrote: post #89

I think there's good intentions by Google here. That said, let's talk about the worst-case scenario, the thing that Google could actually do that is entirely anti-competitive. Step 1: Google finds a large number of competitors who are doing pretty well playing by their rules. Google finds some trait they all have in common. Google then modifies their own ads to not have that trait. Step 2: Google declares the given t…

Google is absolutely going down the wrong path here. They could blow Amazon away with one simple move that would benefit users AND, especially, advertisers. The problem with online ads and the reason that things are getting scummier and scummier is that they simply don't work very well for the advertiser. Most clicks are bogus; most prospects are unqualified. That's how Amazon wins: when you click Amazon, you are a b…

> If, in their search page, they had a button that said "I am looking to buy" or something along those lines

It seems that you are describing Google Shopping.

Re: How Google Chrome’s ad blocker works

#150

Post by rdiddly »

eli wrote: post #136
drngdds wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like there's a simpler explanation that's still not 'good intentions': 1. Lots of people are using adblockers to block all ads, including Google's, and they don't like that. 2. People mostly install adblockers to block really annoying ads.* 3. By building in an adblocker that blocks annoying ads, people will stop installing full adblockers that also block Google's ads. *There are real issues with non-annoying…

If people no longer feel the need to install a stronger ad blocker why is that bad?

They're doing it, not to block ads, but to make sure ads reach you. So the question gets philosophical in a hurry. What is the "goodness" of an otherwise generous act done for self-serving reasons?

Is it good or bad to write a check to an orphanage for the publicity?

Is it good or bad to save someone's life because they owe you money?

Is it good or bad to block certain ads to make sure other ads still reach you?

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