Google resumes the transition to Manifest V3 and some thoughts

[Michael McMahon]

I want to share this link from this week:

https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3/

I think I figured out the real reasoning behind Manifest V3 today.

Manifest V3 is just an attempt to stop ad blockers. The justification
while having some truth is a misdirection.

How advertisements currently operate:

1. Ads work and an ad blocking technique fails.

2. A patch to a list is created and uBlock Origin works to block the ad.

3. The process repeats.

With this process ads are blocked most of the time if you use technology
capable of blocking ads.

Google controls Chromium, Chrome, the standards behind the extensions
for them, YouTube, and an ad framework where there is an obvious
conflict of interest.

Manifest V3 would prevent ad blocking extensions such as uBlock Origin
from downloading block lists. The block lists would instead need to be
shipped with a new version of uBlock Origin.

There is a delay in publication between when an extension is submitted
and when it is published. This can last a few hours or a few weeks.

How advertisements will work under Manifest V3:

1. Ads work and an ad blocking technique fails.

2. A patch to a list is created and uBlock Origin adds the new item to a 
release.

3. The new uBlock Origin version is submitted to Google.

4. Google inspects the new list and informs the YouTube ad team.

5. Google changes their ad delivery system and gives the greenlight to 
release.

6. Google publishes the new version of uBlock Origin that includes a 
patch that no longer works.

7. No Google ads are blocked.

This puts ad blocking forever in a state of always being one step behind
Google.

If the Google ad team gets to inspect and even slow the release of the
uBlock Origin extension before every release, they can forever be one
step ahead and the Internet will always have Google ads.

This behavior is consistent with their Web Environment Integrity (WEI) / 
Android WebView Media Integrity API initiative [1] and recent changes to
YouTube web interface [2] and app.

[1] 
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2023/11/increasing-trust-for-embedded-media.html

[2] https://andadinosaur.com/youtube-s-anti-adblock-and-ublock-origin

Manifest V3 is about greed and ad revenue.

Best,
Michael McMahon | GNU/Linux Systems Administrator, Free Software Foundation
GPG Key: 4337 2794 C8AD D5CA 8FCF  FA6C D037 59DA B600 E3C0
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