Google explains that Chrome’s anti-ad-blocker, Manifest V3 is mainly to better protect users
Google’s recent readiness to adjust the interface will affect the ability of ad blocking software, and Google’s approach has clearly caused a lot of controversies. The US Securities and Exchange Commission show that the new ad-blocking technology will hurt Google’s advertising business. This has to be reminiscent of Google Chrome’s main purpose is to protect its advertising business, and there may be monopolistic behavior. However, Google explained that the company did not intend to limit the ability of ad blocking software, but to protect users from malicious extensions to steal confidential information.
Google said in an official security blog that the company has been fighting malicious extensions in recent years, and these malicious extensions contain multiple behaviors. Every month, Google blocks more than 1,800 malicious extensions from being posted to the browser store, and the company has invested a lot of money in auditing.
For example, the company’s engineering team increased by 300% on the issue of preventing abuse of extensions, and the number of auditors responsible for reviewing extensions increased by 400%. These manpower and material resources have achieved relatively obvious results, such as the installation rate of malicious extension programs has dropped by more than 89% since 2018. But in the end, Google believes that it is necessary to strengthen the reading restrictions on the user data of the extension program in order to completely solve the problem, which is why Google has to adjust.
Google’s upcoming interface is being used by many popular extensions, including those that have been installed by countless users. Google said the company will not prevent ad blocking tools from blocking any ads, instead, the company will help ad blocking software seek privacy solutions.
Google wrote, “this effort is motivated by a desire to keep users safe and to give them more visibility and control over the data they’re sharing with extensions. One way we are doing this is by helping users be deliberate in granting access to sensitive data – such as emails, photos, and access to social media accounts. As we make these changes we want to continue to support extensions in empowering users and enhancing their browsing experience.”
That is to say, the user’s privacy information protection is balanced with the function of the extension program, but it seems that at least Google is still unable to reach this balance point. Google said the company will continue to work with communities and developers to find solutions that meet the functional requirements and the security and control of user data.