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

tomshardware.com

21–30 of 80 posts

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

#21

why just yt? There are many more sites doing this

You have to start somewhere. If you take down something as big as YT the small cockroaches will be gone the next second.

Exactly the prominent "continue without accepting" started to be prominent on banners and not burried below 3 clicks /redirection ONLY AFTER google had to put it on theirs

Its the same as when a group bully you, you only need to bring down the big one

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

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> No need to get the govt involved. Well, states are already involved in the EU due to the GDPR, e-privacy directive, and other things. But the case is interesting from a legal perspective. Note that the complainant refers to Irish criminal law, but there is also Directive 2013/40/EU, which contains rather similar mandates. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A...

So in terms of pro-privacy, yes, happy for the govt to get involved, possibly even if it's to the point where all internet users end up with the same privacy rights as under-13s. Although even then, have to be vigilant, with the EU and the US periodically trying to mandate "backdoors" into encrypted communications.

My concern for govt choosing what can be displayed in terms of ads is a concern that the govt would then move into choosing what must be displayed, once some sort of agreement on what is "fair" to display is reached. I'd prefer the antagonistic free-for-all to continue, as it's pretty easy to block ads everywhere at the moment.

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

#23
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.

Yess! I totally agree. My favorite creator has a patreon and I contribute that way.

But the platform does have their costs to cover, they contribute to discoverability & host all the videos. But yes, creating good quality videos is a full time job that isn't compensated simply by relying on ad money.

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

#24
Related anecdote:

Just a couple days ago I was watching YouTube and the videos kept defaulting to 480p quality and not automatically increasing to a higher one. This was on my home network that is definitely able to handle a higher quality stream. I was able to manually set it to 720p (good enough for watching on my laptop) and it didn't flip back. This happened a few times in a row that I found it odd. I then thought it might be ad blocking related so I disabled uBlock Origin for YouTube and then everything worked fine after that. Coincidence? Maybe, I need to try this a few more times to see.

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

#25
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 only got 1 really obnoxious ad about finding out how much my car is worth (I don't own a car, I don't even have a license), but I can usually get rid of it by rerolling by reloading the page.

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

#26

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…

I won't mind to watch some ADs from time to time. However, these guys have gotten too greedy with their advertisements and "buy premium" shit popping up every now and then. Heck, my experience without a blocker was that I had 2 freaking 15-second inserts every 5 minutes of video.

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

#27

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…

> I don't tell myself that I have a right to free stuff.

Then it isn't free?

Google have no right to make us watch ads either. IP laws protecting their profit is preventing youtube-dl like alternative hosting, since Google got the IP rights for the video. And the network effect is keeping creators trapped in their playground.

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

#28
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Because sometimes legislation can end up with regulatory capture.

If the govt reaches some sort of agreement with tech companies that results in some things (that we can already block) becoming illegal to display on their end, but other things now becoming illegal to block, that would be a worse result than the govt just doing nothing. Historically, when the govt gets involved, this is the result. Back when cable TV was relevant, Tivo lost a lawsuit filed against them for auto-skipping ads on recorded content.

Although looking at the article, it just says "A privacy consultant based in Ireland says he is in the process of filing a criminal complaint against YouTube for alleged unlawful surveillance" so I would be surprised if anything came of this anyway.

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

#29

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…

> Why do you pretend that you are entitled to free video storage and bandwidth from YouTube?

Because they offered it for free.

YouTube can close the doors any time. If they want my money, they can make a service offering that meets my needs. They could charge content providers for bandwidth and storage and meter it with assisted ad-support networks. They could charge a price I'm willing to pay.

But they don't and I will not accept any argument that consuming resources they put into the public sphere for free use means I am under any moral obligation to either give them money or facilitate them making money off of my traffic.

The only time ads worked was when Google made them an unobtrusive part of search. They dominate literally every piece of software I use now. I'm sorry but I say burn it all to the ground. I will either pay for or build its replacement.

You don't want ad-blockers? Shut it down. I was doing the internet before there was a need for them.

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