🚀 Medial Secures Investment on Shark Tank India - Fueling the Future of Professional Social Networking. 🔥

Startup Showcase

Premium Content

Try our Valuation Calculator →

News on Medial

YouTube’s Ad Blocker Detection Believed to Break EU Privacy Law

Wired · 1y ago

YouTube’s Ad Blocker Detection Believed to Break EU Privacy Law

Privacy campaigner Alexander Hanff has raised concerns about the legality of YouTube's ad blocker detection in Europe. Hanff claims that YouTube's use of JavaScript-based detection scripts to identify ad-blocking software on users' devices is a violation of European law. He has filed a complaint with Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner and is seeking action against YouTube for its breach of the law. Hanff argues that YouTube's detection scripts infringe on EU citizens' privacy rights and fail to provide clear information and the right to refuse such processing. German Pirate Party MEP Patrick Breyer has also requested a legal position from the European Commission regarding this matter.

Related News

YouTube’s Ad Blocker Crackdown Spurs Record Uninstalls

Wired · 1y ago

YouTube’s Ad Blocker Crackdown Spurs Record Uninstalls

Google's YouTube has launched a major crackdown on ad blockers, demanding viewers to disable them or risk losing access to videos. Reports suggest that the crackdown is working, as hundreds of thousands of people uninstalled their ad blockers in October. Ad blocking companies experienced a surge in installations as users sought alternatives that wouldn't trigger YouTube's pop-up warnings. However, some ad blocker providers are adapting to evade YouTube's restrictions. The industry continues to battle with conflicting interests and differing interpretations of acceptable ads.

YouTube says users may experience 'suboptimal viewing' with ad-blockers on

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

YouTube says users may experience 'suboptimal viewing' with ad-blockers on

Google-owned YouTube has announced that users with ad-blockers installed may experience a "suboptimal viewing" experience, regardless of the browser being used. Users on Reddit and other forums have reported a five-second delay when loading videos on Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge, which does not occur when using Chrome. YouTube clarified that their ad-blocker detection does not target specific browsers and delays have been reported across all browsers. The platform recommends trying YouTube Premium or allowing ads for an ad-free experience. This crackdown has led to a surge in ad-blocker uninstalls.

YouTube's Ad blocker crackdown is getting harder to dodge

Gizmodo

Gizmodo · 1y ago

YouTube's Ad blocker crackdown is getting harder to dodge

YouTube is taking increasingly aggressive measures to combat ad-blocker usage on its platform. Users are now being met with pop-up notifications that block video playback until the ad blocker is disabled or YouTube is added to the allowlist. The company claims that using ad blockers is against its terms of service and that ads support creators and allow access to content. This move comes as YouTube faces declining ad revenue and seeks alternative ways to monetize its platform.

Meta, others should give users free option without targeted ads, EU privacy watchdog says

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

Meta, others should give users free option without targeted ads, EU privacy watchdog says

The EU privacy watchdog has stated that large online platforms, like Meta Platforms, should provide users with the option to use their services for free without targeted advertising. This comes in response to Meta's ad-free subscription service, which has been criticized. Privacy regulators have sought an opinion on the validity of such consent. The watchdog suggests that if companies charge for access to an equivalent ad-free alternative, they should also offer an additional free alternative without behavioral advertising. Offering only a binary choice may not fulfill requirements for valid consent under EU privacy rules.

YouTube Tests Longer but Fewer Ads on TV for Better Viewing Experience

Robots · 1y ago

YouTube Tests Longer but Fewer Ads on TV for Better Viewing Experience

YouTube is testing a new ad format on its TV app that aims to replicate the traditional commercial break experience. In this experiment, viewers will see fewer ads, but each ad will have a longer duration. YouTube also plans to update the ad timer on its TV app to show the total duration of each ad break, providing users with a clear indication of how long the break will last. This move is part of YouTube's efforts to enhance the viewing experience on its TV app and balance ad revenue with user satisfaction.

Meta's Instagram and Facebook to offer subscription

Livemint

Livemint · 1y ago

Meta's Instagram and Facebook to offer subscription

Social media giant Meta is reportedly considering charging European users around $14 per month for an ad-free subscription to Instagram and Facebook. Meta has shared this plan with privacy regulators in Ireland, digital competition regulators in Brussels, and EU privacy regulators. The proposed subscription would cost around 10 euros per month on desktop, with additional fees for extra accounts. On mobile, the price would increase to approximately 13 euros per month due to commissions charged by Apple's and Google's app stores. It is unclear if EU regulators will approve Meta's plan.

Veera: India’s Mobile Only Internet Browser by Marquee Investors and Entrepreneurs

Startup News FYI

Startup News FYI · 1y ago

Veera: India’s Mobile Only Internet Browser by Marquee Investors and Entrepreneurs

Veera, a mobile-only internet browser developed in India, aims to revolutionize the mobile internet experience. Backed by prominent investors and entrepreneurs, Veera boasts fast browsing speeds and prioritizes user safety and privacy. It blocks third-party trackers, ads, and autoplay videos by default, while also offering a state-of-the-art ad blocker. Currently available on Android, Veera plans to expand to iOS and Windows in the future. The browser is designed to cater to India's unique needs and aims to provide a fast, safe, and seamless browsing experience for its over 1 billion smartphone users.

Mozilla hit with privacy complaint over Firefox user tracking

Economic Times

Economic Times · 9m ago

Mozilla hit with privacy complaint over Firefox user tracking

NOYB, a privacy advocacy group, has filed a complaint against Mozilla, the maker of the Firefox browser, alleging that the company tracks user behavior on websites without their consent. Mozilla's "privacy preserving attribution" feature, aimed at helping websites understand ad performance without collecting individual data, has been turned on by default. NOYB argues that this interferes with user rights under EU privacy laws. They are calling for Mozilla to inform users about data processing, switch to an opt-in system, and delete unlawfully processed data.

ETtech Explainer: WhatsApp's standoff with Centre over end-to-end encryption

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

ETtech Explainer: WhatsApp's standoff with Centre over end-to-end encryption

WhatsApp has stated that it may have to stop operating in India if it is forced to break encryption to comply with the country's Information Technology Rules. These rules require traceability to identify the "first originator" of messages, but WhatsApp argues that this violates privacy rights. The government has opposed WhatsApp's stance, claiming that the messaging app cannot legitimately claim to protect privacy as it monetizes user information for business purposes. This issue raises questions about the balance between privacy and law enforcement in the digital age.

Advocacy group threatens Meta with injunction over use of EU data for AI training

Economic Times

Economic Times · 2m ago

Advocacy group threatens Meta with injunction over use of EU data for AI training

Austrian advocacy group NOYB plans legal action against Meta over its use of personal data from European Instagram and Facebook users to train AI models, potentially leading to billion-euro damages. Meta claims a legitimate interest under EU rules, allowing data usage unless users opt out. NOYB challenges this reasoning, citing privacy concerns and urging Meta to seek explicit consent instead. A potential injunction could involve collective lawsuits under EU law.

Trackers

Active Indian VC’s

OG Capital Email

With a hands-on approach, OG Capital aims to invest in over 20 promising...

Accel Partners Email

Early and growth-stage investments in disruptive technology companies with...

Early-stage venture capital firm investing in technology startups in India. Focus on...

Access All Trackers

Startup Showcase Winners

June 2025

Helping your parents when you are miles away

The Pit Stop Your Cravings Deserve

The next generation E-commerce platform

Enter Ongoing Startup Showcase

Top Users

Trending News on Medial

ChatGPT is testing a mysterious n ...

Jack Dorsey working on Bluetooth ...

Meta acquires voice startup Play ...

Download the medial app to read full posts, comements and news.