Google has recently announced that it will be resuming the phase-out process for its new extension format, “Manifest V3,” for its web browser Chrome. This comes after the tech giant paused the process a year ago due to backlash from users and critics. The plan to kill the current format, Manifest V2, will begin in June 2024 with the discontinuation of Manifest V2 for pre-stable versions of Chrome.
The main objective behind Manifest V3 is to limit the number of extensions available on Chrome in order to reduce resource consumption and enhance user privacy. However, critics argue that this move will leave users more vulnerable to online threats and won’t significantly improve security measures.
One of the major concerns raised by critics is the impact on ad blockers. Manifest V3 imposes an arbitrary limit on filtering rules, which hampers the effectiveness of ad blockers. Following widespread outrage, Google increased the limit from 5,000 to 30,000 rules. Nonetheless, ad-blocking capabilities are expected to be diminished compared to the current extension format.
In contrast to Google’s approach, Mozilla’s Firefox browser plans to implement Manifest V3 without imposing limitations on filtering and other capabilities. This means that Firefox users will still have access to privacy tools like uBlock Origin, which allows them to control the type of content they see while browsing the internet.
Once Manifest V3 is fully implemented, Chrome users will be limited to using “uBlock Origin Lite,” a stripped-down version of the original uBlock Origin extension. To fully utilize the capabilities of uBlock Origin or other similar extensions, users will have to switch to Firefox or another browser that does not impose limitations on extensions.
The decision to resume the phase-out plan for Manifest V3 has sparked mixed reactions among users. While some appreciate Google’s efforts to streamline resources and prioritize user privacy, others remain skeptical about the potential negative consequences of reducing the availability and effectiveness of extensions. As the June 2024 deadline approaches, it remains to be seen how users will adapt to these changes and whether alternative browsers will gain traction as a result.
Prone to fits of apathy. Music specialist. Extreme food enthusiast. Amateur problem solver.