In a recent blog post, David Li, Product Manager at Google, announced the resumption of the long-anticipated transition to Manifest V3 for Google Chrome extensions. This move has been met with mixed reactions, especially from the community of ad blocker users and developers.
The Manifest V3 extension format, introduced to the Chrome stable channel in 2021 alongside Manifest V2, is set to replace its predecessor in 2024. However, the transition has been met with challenges, leading to a pause in December 2022. Now, the Chrome team is gearing up to disable Manifest V2-based extensions on pre-stable versions, including Dev, Canary, and Beta channels, starting June 2024.
This transition brings a significant change in the form of a filtering rule limit, impacting various extensions, notably ad blockers. The filtering rule limit, initially set at 5,000, caused an uproar within the developer community. In response to the backlash, Google increased the limit to 30,000. Nevertheless, this change has raised concerns among ad blocker users and developers who fear the potential implications on their browsing experience.
The motivation behind these limitations, according to Google, is to optimize Chrome for resource consumption and enhance user privacy by preventing potential abuses by extension developers. This decision, however, has led some users to express dissatisfaction, with a few even contemplating a switch to alternative browsers.
Andrey Meshkov, CTO of AdGuard, has offered a contrasting perspective, expressing support for Manifest V3. Meshkov acknowledges the efforts of browser teams, particularly Chrome, in creating a unified platform. He believes that ad blockers, including AdGuard, will adapt to the changes and continue to meet user expectations.
The implementation timeline for stable channel users involves a gradual rollout, with the changes expected to take effect in July 2024. During this period, Google aims to observe and stabilize the adjustments made in pre-stable versions before extending the update to the broader user base.
It’s worth noting that Google’s efforts to limit ad blockers extend beyond Chrome extensions. The company has taken steps to block ad blockers on YouTube and confirmed measures to slow down video playback for viewers using ad-blocking tools.
As the tech giant pushes forward with Manifest V3, the landscape of Chrome extensions, particularly ad blockers, is poised for a transformative shift. Users and developers alike will be closely watching how these changes unfold and impact their online experiences in the coming months.
Comments 1