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adblockfast

Samsung appear a new customized browser for Android devices recently, but unlike its old browser, this i is based on Chromium and has full support for extensions. Samsung partnered with Rocketship Apps to launch an ad-blocker module chosen Adblock Fast for it's new browser, simply Google was not amused. Just a few days after information technology debuted in the Play Store, Google has pulled the app. Abrasive, sure, but not really surprising in the least.

Google contacted the Adblock Fast developers several days ago to permit them know the app was removed for violation of section 4.iv of the developer agreement. That'south the department that deals with disruption of other apps or services. The relevant department includes a prohibition against whatsoever app that "interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner" another app or service. Google has used this provision to remove other advertizing-blocking services from the Play Store, simply the rules are usually applied narrowly.

Y'all tin can become into the Play Store right now and discover browsers that have born advertisement blocking. This is considered acceptable, as they aren't interfering with how another app renders content. Besides, there are apps similar Firefox that have extension frameworks that can exist used to cake ads. Since the extensions aren't Play Shop apps, Google doesn't have whatsoever say in this. The Samsung browser's ad-block extension was listed in the Play Store, so Google was able to driblet the ban hammer.

Here's where things get gluey: The Rocketship advertisement-blocking module wasn't accessing Samsung'southward browser in an "unauthorized manner," equally Google's guidelines state. It was using a Samsung API that was explicitly created for this purpose. You lot could brand the argument that information technology's interfering with Web pages, and mayhap that opens Adblock Fast upwardly to a ban, merely and so and so practise apps like Adblock Browser. To make matters fifty-fifty stranger, Adblock Plus has a Samsung browser extension that is still bachelor for download in the Play Store. Either Google hasn't noticed information technology still, or this could be withal another example of inconsistent application of the rules.

adblock

Google has a lot of business concern ventures, but the main one is still advertising in search results, spider web pages, and apps. If people cake those ads, Google can't brand money. So clearly, Google has a motive to get advertizement blockers out of its official store. In the past, it's pulled root-but apps that could cake ads everywhere on a device, a clear violation of the above rule. Perhaps nosotros shouldn't be surprised that Google is happy to bend its own rules a bit to reduce the number of people using ad blockers.

For heaters of ads, this isn't every bit cataclysmic equally it would exist on the Apple tree side of the fence. These are just APKs that plug into Samsung'southward browser, so they can be sideloaded if the developers make them available for download. Samsung could likewise host them in its own app shop. Google didn't kill this ad blocker, but it did castor it under the rug.