Google 'may build an adblocker into Chrome'

[steve2470]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/20/google-chrome-adblocker-feature

A future version of Google Chrome may include a built-in adblocker, designed to prevent the most intrusive online adverts from being displayed on users’ computers and smartphones by default.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Google could announce the feature within weeks, but the specifics are not yet set in stone, and the company may yet scrap the entire plan.

If it does go ahead, the company would outsource the definition of unacceptable adverts to the Coalition for Better Ads, an independent group set up by a consortium of major advertisers and agencies in March. Its standards were set in place after “comprehensive research” involving more than 25,000 participants.

On desktop, the group bans “pop-up ads, auto-play video ads with sound, prestitial ads with countdown and large sticky ads”. On mobile “pop-up ads, prestitial ads, ads with density greater than 30%, flashing animated ads, auto-play video ads with sound, poststitial ads with countdown, full-screen scrollover ads, and large sticky ads” fail to make the standards.

[klook]

1. Adblock Plus is your friend.

How to Block Internet Ads

I use Dolphin on my phone, and Firefox on my desktop and generally have an experience free of ads and pop-ups -- although some web site developers have figured out how to hobble the user who blocks content. So sometimes I have to temporarily whitelist a site to see and do what I want. I also don't mind ads so much on sites whose work I strongly support.

[hunter]

2. Some sites I visit have advertising that's not hideous.

I let that advertising through. I subscribe to DU.

With html5 and javascript intensive sites it's getting harder and harder to selectively block advertising.

Some sites I just block entirely, just to save me from irritation if I accidentally click on them.

Oh, btw, website owners, I DO NOT WANT to sign your petition of the day or register for email updates.

It seems to me that google has some conflicts of interest here, since they are an advertiser, but I'll bet they've got some serious lawyer power invested in this. That "Coalition for Better Ads" had better be squeaky clean.