In search of more profit, Google wages war on privacy

ars Technica writes about a new extension Google will add to its Chrome browser in its ongoing war against consumer privacy. The forced change will start in June 2024. The “new and improved” extension called MV3 (Manifest version 3) will replace the far more effective MV2 that now runs on Chrome. The point of forcing MV3 into Chrome is to disable ad blockers, like the one I use to limit the tidal wave of crappy ad crappage that poisons the internet. arsT writes:
Google's blog post says the plan to kill Manifest V2, the current format for Chrome extensions, is back on starting June 2024. On that date, Google will turn off Manifest V2 .... Google says, "Manifest V2 extensions [will be] automatically disabled in their browser and will no longer be able to install Manifest V2 extensions from the Chrome Web Store."

The timeline around a stable channel rollout is worded kind of strangely. The company says: “We expect it will take at least a month to observe and stabilize the changes in pre-stable before expanding the rollout to stable channel Chrome, where it will also gradually roll out over time. The exact timing may vary depending on the data collected, and during this time, we will keep you informed about our progress.” It's unclear what “data” Google is concerned with. It's not the end of the world if an extension crashes—it turns off and stops working until the user reboots the extension. Maybe the company is concerned about how many people will migrate to the Firefox browser once their ad-blocker stops working.

Google's sales pitch for Manifest V3 is that, by limiting extensions, the browser can be lighter on resources, and Google can protect your privacy from extension developers.

Firefox’s Add-On Operations Manager also didn't agree with any claims of privacy benefits, saying that, while malicious add-ons "are mostly interested in grabbing bad data, they can still do that with the current webRequest API." In a later article, the EFF also points out that Google's "lighter on resources" argument also doesn't really hold water. Anyone can open the Chrome Task Manager and see that a single website can take up a huge amount of memory, often in the 200MB-plus range.

The one part of Manifest V3 that everyone can agree on is that it will hurt ad blockers.
Once I lose MV2 next June, I will be one of those folks who migrates (reluctantly) from Chrome to Firefox. The move will be a major pain in the butt because I'm deeply embedded in Google stuff. Firefox is far more concerned than Google about privacy. Actually, Google’s concern is with quietly harvesting and selling personal data, not protecting it, as exemplified in this fun article:
Google collects a massive amount of user data, which has raised serious concerns regarding privacy violations. The company’s business model relies on the collection of user data, which it then uses to serve targeted ads. This data includes a user’s search history, location, personal information, and browsing habits. .... Google’s algorithms can track a user’s online activity across multiple devices and platforms, such as mobile devices, desktops, and laptops. This tracking allows Google to create a detailed profile of a user’s preferences, interests, and behaviors. Google uses this information to serve targeted ads and recommendations to users. .... Google’s tracking and data collection practices do not just stop at online activity. The company has access to a user’s physical location, which it can track through the user’s device’s GPS or IP address. This tracking can be done without a user’s knowledge or consent, which can be concerning for those who value their privacy.  
Another privacy concern of Google is its data sharing practices. Google has partnerships and agreements with various third-party companies that allow them to access and use user data for their own purposes. This means that even if a user does not use Google’s services directly, their data may still be shared with other companies without their knowledge.
See why Google wants to neuter ad blockers? I do. Mazel tov!


By Germaine: Snarling watchdog of the consumer’s interests


Good dog! Who’s a good boy! 
Yeah, you’re a good boy.

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