Chrome extension platform ‘misleading,’ says privacy activist

Google has released an update to develop Manifest V3, the next version of the Chrome extension platform. As expected Users and developers will migrate to Manifest V3 in January 2023. Privacy activist EFF warns that the technology is “misleading and threatening”.

Each Chrome extension contains a manifest.json file. Browsers refer to the file to run extensions. In addition to the name, version number, and icons, the file defines the permissions the extension needs to work. The manifest.json file directs the extension’s privacy options.

Google wants to implement a new version of the system. According to the post blog ad The transition to Manifest V3 will begin in January 2023. From that moment on, Manifest V2 will no longer be supported, so everyone will have to make the switch.

As of June 2023, the company is trialling Chrome 115 to disable Manifest V2 on all channels. Additionally, the Chrome Web Store will no longer accept Manifest V2 extensions. By January 2024, the default setting will be completely removed from the web store.

Chrome Manifest V3

Google claims that the new platform offers more privacy, performance, and security. Manifest V3 is one of the most significant transformations since we launched the extension platform a decade ago.

according to Ars Technica Technology has a downside. The site states that the changes are dangerous to the user’s privacy. Built-in features enforce privacy and ad blocking extensions to ignore dynamic filtering rules. Manifest V3 works with a list of up to 30,000 blocked URLs, while a typical ad block extension allows up to 300,000 blocked URLs.

The EFF It is concerned that Google is abusing its market leadership position to limit ad-blocking options and protect its revenue model. Privacy activist described Manifesto V3 as “misleading and threatening”.

EFF added: “It will limit the capabilities of web extensions – especially extensions designed to control and modify communication between browsers and sites.” “Under the new specifications, add-ons like these will have much less potential.”

The privacy activist is concerned about the review and inspection capabilities of Manifest V3, stressing that Google is not taking enough steps to prevent cybercriminals from stealing data. In addition, referred to as EFF recent study It turns out that technology degrades browser performance.

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