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YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

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Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#101
post #100

Why should companies be required to offer content to people for free?

Because they do offer content to people for free, and have for years. And people might actually be willing to put up with ads if they weren't so invasive and obnoxious - static ad banners, for instance, would probably be fine. But interrupting a video every few seconds for several minutes of ads is just ridiculous. Also because the ability for the end user to have complete control over the content the server sends th…

A torrent based youtube replacement sounds fun.

Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#103
post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because they do offer content to people for free, and have for years. And people might actually be willing to put up with ads if they weren't so invasive and obnoxious - static ad banners, for instance, would probably be fine. But interrupting a video every few seconds for several minutes of ads is just ridiculous. Also because the ability for the end user to have complete control over the content the server sends th…

A torrent based youtube replacement sounds fun.

Isn't that basically PeerTube?

Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#104
post #24
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could do without js.

As the "cookie consent" debacle showed us, websites won't stop using JS, they'll just bombard you with consent dialogs until you click the button that makes them go away fastest, which is likely the one that involves consenting to run their JS.

[deleted]

Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#105
post #33

Are people actually getting blocked? I saw the adblock-block popup once, and after flushing the cache and updating filters of my adblocker I haven't had any issues using yt since. Am I just in a lucky A/B group or is the detection and blockage actually that toothless?

I got blocked briefly. I switched to non-logged-in or using an alternative interface for a bit. I switched back and haven’t seen hide-nor-hair of the warning. I don’t know what that means though. Here’s hoping they don’t disable my Google account.

Oh, as of this afternoon I'm seeing ads show up on YouTube (I'm using Brave, with no additional ad-blocking) now. I guess we'll see how it plays out.

Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Welll... to be fair, that's literally the only reason the platform got as big as it did, and became "the" ubiquitous video hosting platform. They fronted the cost to capture a massive audience, and now they gradually extract more and more value out of the user base they lured in.

And the irony is, of course, that YouTube got off the ground based off of blatant and widespread copyright infringement.

People forget that when Google was buying them there were a bunch of copyright lawsuits again them and most of the major tech companies were scared to pay too much for them. Once the deals with the record labels worked out they found their footing.

Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#107
post #36
post #33

Are people actually getting blocked? I saw the adblock-block popup once, and after flushing the cache and updating filters of my adblocker I haven't had any issues using yt since. Am I just in a lucky A/B group or is the detection and blockage actually that toothless?

I’m getting fully blocked. I barely mind it anymore though, it basically acts as a great procrastination block. (I think there’s work around a like that embedded videos still work but I like reducing the amount.)

Premium was the worst purchase I ever made. I used to scroll shorts on my phone until my rage towards ads was strong enough to overpower my desire to continue. Now there's no release valve. I should go cancel it actually...

Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#108

is Google really that desperate for revenue that they need to do this shit? Comes off as desperate

The thirst is real. I imagine no publicly traded company will ever stop nickel & diming to the ultimate degree. Even when you think the maximum level has been reached, they'll find a new way to extract more from users.

The only revenue target they have is 'more'. There's no stable end state where the goal has been achieved. Population declines are really going to end that model in spectacular fashion.

Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#109
post #12

I don't think this argument has any legs. You request a page from a web server, the server gives you back some html and some javascript, you execute the javascript which detects if you are using an adblocker. There is no tracking involved, if you believe the js you got back is spyware you can refrain from running it and you can't watch the vid. Should every website ask for your consent to serve you javascript now?

> Should every website ask for your consent to serve you javascript now? Ideally, yes.

[deleted]

Re: YouTube's Adblock detection might break the law in the EU

#110
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please don't give the EU any more ideas.

Please, give them more ideas. They're the only regulatory bloc that's willing to protect users from corporate overreach and oligopoly.

Their core thoughts seems to good, final result isn't.
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