Google Pays AdBlock Enough Said
Posted: 11 Aug 2013 04:59 PM PDT
Pulling from the German Web site Horizont comes an interesting insight into Google’s dealings with AdBlock: “Google Is Funding AdBlock Plus.” AdBlock is a plugin users can download to block ads on their Internet browsers, but it still allows ads through that it deems “acceptable.” What makes an ad acceptable? Apparently if you pay Eyeo, the company that created AdBlock, enough money it will allow your ads to pass through the plugin. In a not too surprising deal, Google pays up.
Google is not the only one that pays out of pocket. Amazon, Reddit, and Yandex are also on the acceptable list. So money oils the squeaky wheel, but what makes Google stand out is what might be a suspect transaction. Forgive the translation below from Google. Deutsch ist eine schwierige Sprache.
“However, as a glance at the forum said of AdBlock Plus to receive Google AdWords shows, there are a total of nine entries. Till user – probably AdBlock Plus boss Till Faida personally – put the post on 18 Online in June 2013, six anonymous users briefly discussed what Google AdWords are ever exactly brought no reasons why it would violate the Acceptable Ads Rules, and three days later, on 21 June 2013, wrote Till user “Added” in the forum thread – Google’s advertising has since no longer filtered by AdBlock Plus. The same applies for the AdSense advertising program in which third party sites advertising Google can embed in their web sites, and be compensated for it.”
Suspect? Yes. Good business practice? No. If you do not want targeted ads, should you switch to a different plugin? Not a bad idea.
Whitney Grace, August 12, 2013
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