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YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

tomshardware.com

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Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#11

Post by greybox »

Whatever I think about Google, I have a softspot for youtube. Youtube is an amazing resource for society, the amount of knowledge that humanity has stored on their servers is mind boggling. You can learn anything there from DIY Flooring installation to programming to Japanese. I've started entire years long side projects based on being inspired by something I've seen on youtube.

I'm alright watching adds to see that resource remain free. I'm even alright with them not showing me videos if they detect I have my ad blocker on. That seems fair to me.

I use firefox and have ublock origin turned on everywhere else on the web.

I do think though that they should be separated from Google.

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#12

Post by Ajay-p »

I continue to block ads on YouTube and have had no adverse warnings but I anticipate them eventually. Relevancy of the ads is an issue but I am more frustrated by the quality, repetitiveness, and many times the obnoxiousness of the ads. I will never, ever, purchase liberty insurance. I am sick and tired of the ostrich man. A company that blasts its obnoxious advertising holds the same place in my hatred as loud, used car dealers.

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#13

Post by jeroenhd »

Moldoteck wrote: post #3

why just yt? There are many more sites doing this

It's a giant site that'll be easier to bring to courts, and the EU has made plenty of tech regulation specifically against FAANG+.

I don't think Youtube will lose this, but you'll have a lot more luck convincing a judge that Youtube is breaking the law than some blog spam news site.

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#14

Post by gostsamo »

jruohonen wrote: post #2

A move to criminal law is certainly interesting development in this domain.

this was discussed yesterday under a register article. should be noted that this is a private citizen's complaint and not initiated by the state.

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#15

Post by Teever »

MiddleEndian wrote: post #6
jruohonen wrote: post #2

A move to criminal law is certainly interesting development in this domain.

Yeah, not really a fan. Youtube can attempt to ads. I can attempt to block those ads (and have succeeded without interruption so far lol). No need to get the govt involved.

Google is a monopolist. Why shouldn't we regulate it differently than we regulate other companies?

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#16

Post by tinrab »

Ajay-p wrote: post #12

I continue to block ads on YouTube and have had no adverse warnings but I anticipate them eventually. Relevancy of the ads is an issue but I am more frustrated by the quality, repetitiveness, and many times the obnoxiousness of the ads. I will never, ever, purchase liberty insurance. I am sick and tired of the ostrich man. A company that blasts its obnoxious advertising holds the same place in my hatred as loud, used…

I keep getting a crypto trading bot ad with AI generated Elon Musk. Ad blockers are necessary.

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#17

Post by westurner »

Why do you pretend that you are entitled to free video storage and bandwidth from YouTube? You haven't been sleighted. That service costs money to provide.

No, you don't have a right to free service either. Do you pay your other bills while you demand free rendered services from these companies?

Having a disability or similar does not entitle you to an unsubsidized Times Square with no ads.

(NASA is running their own streaming network and competing; it can be done. EU should try to run competing free video streaming businesses before shoving preferred American companies around with anti-competitive claims. EU haven't run a video hosting business that's been prevented from competing by the success, existence, and approved mergers and acquisitions of American media companies; and so EU video hosting businesses haven't and can't have been anti-conpetitively disadvantaged.)

I also run ad blockers for various justifiable reasons; but I don't tell myself that I have a right to free shtuff.

How the heck can you require only Netflix to host 30% local EU content and also demand free video streaming service with no ads?

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#18

Post by WesolyKubeczek »

greybox wrote: post #11

Whatever I think about Google, I have a softspot for youtube. Youtube is an amazing resource for society, the amount of knowledge that humanity has stored on their servers is mind boggling. You can learn anything there from DIY Flooring installation to programming to Japanese. I've started entire years long side projects based on being inspired by something I've seen on youtube. I'm alright watching adds to see that…

Seek ways to support the creators, not the platform.

Videos that take a shitton of time and resources to make and are actually useful information-dense content don’t usually get enough viewers to pay for themselves with ads — their audience is way too small by definition — but some stupid low-effort viral shit that gets viewed by billions does.

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#19

Post by ESMirro »

This is a publicity stunt.

He’s simply gone to the Garda (Irish police) and reported a “crime” (that Google have apparently broken the law). The Garda will “investigate”, inevitably find that, no, the law designed to arrest blackhats breaking into computer systems does not cover this scenario despite its vague wording, and inform the complainant accordingly.

A small waste of police time and taxpayer money, reported on by trashy clickbait websites as though it’s some meaningful event in order to drive arguments in the comments on the legitimacy of the complaint.

Re: YouTube may face criminal complaints in EU for using ad-block detection scripts

#20

Post by karmasimida »

MiddleEndian wrote: post #6
jruohonen wrote: post #2

A move to criminal law is certainly interesting development in this domain.

Yeah, not really a fan. Youtube can attempt to ads. I can attempt to block those ads (and have succeeded without interruption so far lol). No need to get the govt involved.

EU is all about over regulation, this is just what they do.
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