Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

Many browser makers have ignored the Manifest V3 changes of Google but on the other hand, Microsoft has decided to implement the changes in the extensions system of their Chromium-based Edge browser.

The Manifest V3 changes were announced in the year 2018 and it is a set of changes to Chromium open-source browser engine and the WebExtensions API which updates the way through which browser extensions work with Chrome, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, Edge and Chromium-based browsers.

When Google announced the changes proposed under Manifest V3, the company said its goal was to improve the security and extensions performance and also providing users control over what extensions can do and the sites they interact with. The developers of extensions answered back with concerns that the updates of Manifest V3 had other changes that can render ad blockers, antivirus software, parental control software and the privacy-focused extensions as ineffective.

Image Source : Gigazine

The company also received backlash from users and browser makers who saw the move as a medium for Google to tighten the grip on ad blockers that hurt its main business and online advertising. On the other hand, Opera, Brave and Vivaldi announced that they will ignore the updates of Manifest V3 so that the users can continue to use ad blockers.

Because of heavy criticism, Google backtracked the changes it wanted to bring on how Chromium handles extensions. The changes of Manifest V3 has already started to roll out in Chrome and ad blocker developers are worried that their products will not work anymore when these changes will be made to the stable versions of the browser.

The preview of Manifest V3 started for Chrome in October 2019 and Google plans to make these changes in the stable version of Chrome this year. The changes have made their way to the new Chromium-based Edge browser of Microsoft and they are already live in beta and stable releases.

Microsoft Edge Team said that the changes will not make ad blockers ineffective in their browser. The company assured extension developers that this was the issue saying that the changes will not compromise the capabilities of the extension or decrease the potential of the extension ecosystem. The changes might decrease the time taken to review the submissions and improve certification turnaround time and decreasing the cost of developing and maintaining extensions. They recognize the value of content blocking extensions and appreciate the role played by them in honoring the choice of the users by blocking advertisements and improving privacy by blocking cookies and they want developers to continue to provide the capabilities.