IMHO, more evidence that some kind of regulation needs to happen for the internet.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-google-...1518623663

Quote:Starting on Thursday, Google’s Chrome browser will block certain types of online advertisements, a change Google is describing as user friendly. But some in the industry say the ad giant’s move is self-serving, and they contend Google overly influenced the process that selected which ad types to block.

Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., describes the new policy as the work of a collective, industry-wide effort designed to rid the internet of spammy ads like pop-ups, and make other ads more appealing to users.

Some people involved in that initiative say it wasn’t a true joint effort but a Google-dominated one that, while reducing ads widely considered annoying, also could ultimately help Google’s bottom line.

Google is a behemoth in the digital ad industry. About $3 out of every $10 spent on digital ads goes to Google, which generated over $95 billion in ad sales last year. Some critics of the company’s new policy say advertisers may shift more dollars to Google sites and products, which are less likely to be blocked by the Chrome browser. The browser is used by more than 59% of internet users.

Google’s ad-blocking effort is unfolding as the U.S. and European government officials have raised concern about the growing economic power of tech giants. Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s competition chief, last year said she would follow the Chrome ad blocker’s effects closely.