I value my privacy and I do whatever I can to protect it. One of the tools I use to protect it is uBlock Origin. I haven’t noticed this until today, partly because I usually don’t follow news, and somehow I wasn’t shocked at all. Google is forcing users to stop using uBlock Origin and other privacy tools.

Apparently, Google is phasing out Manifest V2 in favor of Manifest v3 on its web browser, Chrome, and as a result, extensions using Manifest V2 stop working. Google is excusing this action by claiming the Manifest V3 enhances security and privacy of the users, which we know is false since Google’s tracking of users and violation of their privacy is what makes them money, and benefit is the only ting that drives them forward.

Chrome, and its parent project Chromium, are Google’s arms to impose its control and force on the web. They are what Google uses to force its “standards” on to web and control how users are able to browse it. Sadly, they have been successful so far, as Chrome (and Chromium-based browsers) are leading in usage share reports.

Extensions such as uBlock Origin are essential for people like me, who value their online privacy and are unable to tolerate the web today. I remember not having a tracker-blocker for an hour last year when I was setting up a new browser on a new computer I was going crazy.

Well, this doesn’t currently affect me as I never use Chromium-based browsers. Even ones such as Brave who advertise themselves as privacy-respecting are no good for me as I believe no matter how good they are, they eventually are empowering Google. I use Firefox-based browsers to, as little as my part is, fight back against monopoly-empowering web browsers.

You could switch to Firefox as well. It’s backed by nonprofit Mozilla Foundation and doesn’t miss a feature you’d get on other web browser. It’s also respectful to your freedom, published under a free (as in freedom) license.

I know Mozilla have not been acting so well recently but currently it’s the only choice we have Also, what we should do is not to boycott Mozilla, but forcing them to act in favor of the community, specially when it comes to choosing between what they offer and what Google has.

Web is already going to hell but it’s not too late. We still can take it back, and we should do whatever we can to take back control, for the sake of freedom, security, and privacy.