If Google actually wanted to cripple adblockers, why wouldn't just ban them outright and remove addons used for adblocking purposes from the Chrome extension store, or completely remove APIs that allow for content blocking? Why would they develop a new extension API that still allows you to block ads at all?
Why isn't it possible that the new APIs might have actual benefits and exist for legitimate reasons?
I understand that companies suck and exist solely to serve themselves, and I fully support being skeptical, but I think users here are way too quick to jump on the hate train and start slinging FUD. Maybe you are right and Google is trying to cripple adblockers, but I'm not so sure yet and would like to see others at least consider an alternative perspective.
Outright killing adblocking will reduce Chrome's market share significantly. Enough that Chrome may lose its position as the top browser. Its a terrible business decision that can kill Chrome or atleast give a chance for someone else to take their position. Why would they do that?
Crippling enough that most people won't notice is a viable business decision. Introducing a security benefit, inserting a self interest(crippling adblocks while providing vastly inferior alternative) which won't be noticed by most people but they are being secretly compromised behind the scenes since less ads are blocked and are being tracked more effectively is a profitable business tactic. Bringing a benefit along with a profit tactic compromising customers and pretending the said compromise is as big of a detriment to the consumer, which it is not, is whats going on. Is this so hard to see? Its not a FUD but the profiting parties trying to sway the opinions.
> If Google actually wanted to cripple adblockers, why wouldn't just ban them outright and remove addons used for adblocking purposes from the Chrome extension store, or completely remove APIs that allow for content blocking? Why would they develop a new extension API that still allows you to block ads at all?
They already did all this on the most popular version of Chrome. It seems very reasonable to assume their desired state is to match that version across all platforms.
If Google actually wanted to cripple adblockers, why wouldn't just ban them outright and remove addons used for adblocking purposes from the Chrome extension store, or completely remove APIs that allow for content blocking? Why would they develop a new extension API that still allows you to block ads at all?
Why isn't it possible that the new APIs might have actual benefits and exist for legitimate reasons?
I understand that companies suck and exist solely to serve themselves, and I fully support being skeptical, but I think users here are way too quick to jump on the hate train and start slinging FUD. Maybe you are right and Google is trying to cripple adblockers, but I'm not so sure yet and would like to see others at least consider an alternative perspective.