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Sen. Ron Wyden calls for an investigation of the ad-blocking industry:
On Tuesday, one of the Senate's fiercest tech critics, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), called on regulators requesting that they investigate the ad-blocking industry for anti-competitive behavior.
For years now, some of the largest tech firms have paid ad-blocking companies like Eyeo, which owns Adblock Plus, to avoid the software's restrictions and have their ads displayed on devices. In 2015, a report from the Financial Times showed that companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google were paying out ad blockers so that they could be added to a whitelist to avoid the software's filters.
In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, Wyden outlined this behavior and asked Chairman Joseph Simons to open an investigation into the entire ad-blocking industry as a response. Wyden argued that any company that accepts payment to be whitelisted should be "far more transparent" about the process with its users.
In the case of Adblock Plus, the company announced in 2016 that it would be accepting some ads that weren't "intrusive or annoying." The company whitelists these acceptable ads and allows them to run on devices, but Wyden argues that this behavior is "anti-competitive.
The FTC confirmed that it had received the letter.
(Score: 2) by cmdrklarg on Thursday January 16 2020, @10:31PM (3 children)
I do actually use NoScript as well. Like you, it annoys me to have to unblock scripts needed to run a site, but to me it is worth the trouble. Now, if I find a site has too many items that are being blocked? Well, then I reconsider whether I really need to use that site.
When I stopped getting cable TV, I ended up having to give up NFL football, and I find that I don't miss it at all. I did notice that the Vikings made it to the playoffs and even won a game, but as typical they choked. It is highly unlikely that I will pay any attention to the Stupor Bowl either, unless I get invited to a party or something (not very likely).
The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams.
(Score: 2) by dwilson on Friday January 17 2020, @03:36AM (2 children)
I switched from NoScript to uMatrix (same author as uBlock). More or less the same functionality, but I found it much easier to use and modify site-by-site.
- D
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 20 2020, @12:21PM (1 child)
It's the same author as uBlock Origin not Ublock. They are not the same, make sure you are using uBlock Origin!
(Score: 2) by dwilson on Tuesday January 21 2020, @03:56PM
I did mean uBlock Origin. uBlock is no better than AdBlock as far as allowing paid ad's, and the difference is so well known that I had understood uBlock to be synonymous with uBlock Origin unless specified otherwise.
- D