Google’s Chrome browser has started automatically disabling uBlock Origin, one of the most popular ad blocking extensions. Users who want to continue blocking ads in Chrome will have to turn to other, potentially less effective, solutions.
Manifest V3: the designated culprit
This change comes as part of Chrome’s migration to Manifest V3, a new specification for extensions that impacts the effectiveness of certain ad blockers. Manifest V3 places restrictions on the Declarative Net Request API used by these extensions, limiting their filtering capabilities.
Raymond Hill, the developer of uBlock Origin, launched uBlock Origin Lite in response to this transition. But he warns that this lighter version, compatible with Manifest V3, will be less effective in countering sites using blocker detectors or in avoiding “breaking” the display of certain web pages.
Firefox as a refuge for uBlock Origin
If uBlock Origin is doomed on Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers, the extension still has a bright future ahead of it on Firefox. Mozilla’s browser has indeed announced that it will continue to support Manifest V2 extensions as long as possible.
Some dissatisfied users are therefore considering migrating to Firefox to continue to take full advantage of uBlock Origin. Others turn to browsers like Brave or Vivaldi, which also promise extended support for Manifest V2 despite their Chromium base.
A blow to online privacy?
Beyond the uBlock Origin case, a whole category of privacy protection extensions could be weakened by the generalization of Manifest V3. If Google highlights gains in speed and security, some see it above all as an attempt to regain control over the online advertising ecosystem.
The future will tell whether extension editors will be able to adapt to continue to offer effective tools despite the constraints. In the meantime, internet users concerned about their privacy may need to rethink their browsing habits.
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