Google Chrome has started to remove ad blockers that don’t support its new Manifest V3 initiative, … [+]
Google Chrome has started to remove ad blockers that don’t support its new Manifest V3 initiative, angering some users of the privacy preserving technology. One of the most notable victims of Manifest V3 is the popular ad blocker uBlock Origin, which Google is removing from its Chrome browser.
Google Chrome users say they are receiving a notification, which lists extensions no longer working on the browser, including uBlock Origin. “These extensions are no longer supported. Chrome recommends that you remove them,” it reads.
Google provides the option to do so via a link, but even if you don’t do anything, uBlock Origin is no longer working on Chrome.
The Lowdown On Manifest V3
The Manifest V3 plans have been in the making for some time, after Google announced it was migrating from Manifest V2 to V3 , which it claims is a bid to protect user security. The tech giant claims Manifest V3 helps protect users from bad extensions and boosts user privacy.
This is because Manifest V3 mandates the replacement of the webRequest API — which allowed developers to see all traffic — with the more privacy conscious declarativeNetRequest API. In addition, it improves security with new permission models and explicit declarations of which websites extensions can access.
But the declarativeNetRequest API does impact performance and Google has been working on improving this since it first announced Manifest V3 in 2019.
At the same time, it does break some ad blockers, including the popular uBlock Origin.
Initially, many ad blocker makers hit back at Google’s plans, and multiple delays followed. However, today, most ad blockers have created new extensions compatible with Manifest V3.
The Problem With uBlock
Yet uBlock Origin says this hasn’t been possible. The company has instead created uBlockOirgin Lite, a new version with less functionality, for Chrome.
While Google claims its aim is to boost security and privacy for Chrome users, it’s no secret that the tech giant’s business model is based on advertising.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that the latest move has angered some Chrome users. “After more than 15 years, it’s time to switch browsers,” says tech CEO Christoph Nakazawa on X, formerly Twitter. “I just want Chrome but without nefarious behavior by Google.”
The free ad blocker’s developer Raymond Hill has been vocal about the changes, which he says affect the functionality of his extension.
Yet Google argues that other extensions have managed to comply with Manifest V3. “Now, over 93% of actively maintained extensions in the Chrome Web Store are running Manifest V3, and the top content filtering extensions all have Manifest V3 versions available, with options for users of AdBlock, Adblock Plus, uBlock Origin and AdGuard,” a Google spokesperson told me over email.
A story on tech site Xda Developers says there isn’t much difference in using the Lite version.
“It has all of the same filtering as uBlock Origin, it hands over processing to Chrome instead of the extension, and you can still give it more advanced filtering options by granting it more permissions,” lead technical editor Adam Conway writes. “I’ve been using uBlock Origin and haven’t noticed any real differences at all, and it’s just as good as regular uBlock, but with added privacy and performance benefits.”
Manifest V3 is Here To Stay: What To Do
However, privacy is a big deal, especially if you are a Chrome user. So what do you do now Manifest V3 is rolling out?
If you want to use Chrome, you can use uBlock Origin Lite if it offers enough functionality for you. But in many cases — especially since Google is keeping third party cookies, for now — it’ll be time to finally switch to something else.
While other browsers are including Manifest V3, many are keeping Manifest V2 as well. Brave, Firefox or DuckDuckGo are all valid alternatives and Brave is based on the Chromium browser engine, so should offer similar functionality to Chrome.