Google has begun disabling several popular Chrome extensions, including the widely-used ad blocker uBlock Origin, as part of its transition to the new Manifest V3 specification. This move has sparked significant backlash from users and developers alike, who argue that the changes benefit advertisers at the expense of user control over online content.
According to a report by The Verge, the transition to Manifest V3, which Google claims is designed to improve privacy and security, restricts certain extension capabilities, making it harder for ad blockers like uBlock Origin to function effectively. While uBlock Origin Lite will remain available, its ad-filtering capabilities will be limited due to the new restrictions.
Impact on users
Users have reported that Chrome has automatically disabled older extensions, displaying notifications that they are "no longer supported." This change is part of Google's ongoing efforts to phase out Manifest V2, which officially lost support in October 2023. Extensions that have not been upgraded to Manifest V3 are being disabled or removed from the Chrome Web Store.
The impact of this transition extends beyond Chrome, affecting other Chromium-based browsers like Microsoft Edge and Brave. While Brave has confirmed it will offer limited support for ad blockers after the transition, Firefox has stated it will continue to support Manifest V2 extensions, providing a potential alternative for users who rely on ad-blocking tools.