With the Chrome browser dominating the internet landscape and a significant number of users relying on ad blockers, Google’s latest move is set to shake things up. As the leading advertising company, Google’s decision to transition Chrome’s extension framework from Manifest V2 to the newer Manifest V3 is stirring controversy, especially among users of popular ad blockers like uBlock Origin.
The shift to Manifest V3 is touted as an effort to enhance browser security, performance, and compatibility with modern APIs. However, it also means that some complex extensions, including uBlock Origin, will lose functionality. Currently, uBlock Origin, which boasts over 30 million users on Chrome alone, remains operational, but it will soon face automatic disabling through Chrome updates. Users will have a temporary option to manually re-enable it, but this will not last indefinitely.
In response, the creator of uBlock Origin has developed uBlock Origin Lite, a Manifest V3-compliant version of the tool. While it retains core ad-blocking features, it lacks certain advanced functions and may struggle against sophisticated anti-ad-blocking measures. Despite being featured on the Chrome Web Store, uBlock Origin Lite is seen by its creator as insufficient to fully replace the original extension.
For those who rely heavily on uBlock Origin, alternative solutions may include exploring other browsers or finding different ad blockers. The move to Manifest V3 raises questions about Google’s intentions and its impact on user control over advertising, following recent controversies over ad tracking and enforcement.
