Google Chrome is pushing forward with its controversial plan to revamp the extension format with “Manifest V3,” a move that was temporarily halted a year ago due to public backlash. The new extension format sparked concerns over its potential impact on some of Chrome’s most popular extensions. Despite the pause, Google has now resumed the phase-out schedule, albeit with a few modifications. Ultimately, this will result in the inclusion of less effective ad-blocking extensions on Chrome.
In an official blog post, Google announced that the plan to discontinue Manifest V2, the current format for Chrome extensions, is set to recommence in June 2024. The changes will first take effect in the pre-stable versions of Chrome, including the Beta, Dev, and Canary channels. On this date, users will no longer be able to install Manifest V2 extensions from the Google Chrome Web Store, and existing extensions will be automatically disabled in their browsers.
Timeline and Uncertainties
The timeline for the stable channel rollout introduces some ambiguity. Google stated, “We expect it will take at least a month to observe and stabilize the changes in pre-stable before expanding the rollout to stable channel Chrome, where it will also gradually roll out over time.” The exact timing remains uncertain, contingent on collected data. While the nature of this data is unspecified, it raises questions about potential user concerns, especially regarding the stability and functionality of their extensions. Enterprise users with the “ExtensionManifestV2Availability” policy enabled will have an additional year of Manifest V2 compatibility.
Privacy Concerns and Skepticism
Google’s pitch for Manifest V3 emphasizes resource efficiency and enhanced privacy protection. By limiting extensions, the browser aims to reduce resource consumption and shield user privacy from potentially intrusive extension developers. However, critics, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), have challenged these claims. The EFF labeled Google’s description of Manifest V3 as “Deceitful and Threatening,” expressing doubt about its efficacy in improving security.
Firefox’s Add-On Operations Manager also disputed the alleged privacy benefits, arguing that even with Manifest V3, malicious add-ons could still compromise user data using the existing webRequest API. Additionally, concerns were raised about Google’s promise of a lighter resource footprint. The EFF pointed out that the Chrome Task Manager reveals significant memory usage by individual websites, with some exceeding 200MB. This has led to skepticism about the actual resource efficiency of Manifest V3. Critics argue that such changes could expose users to a less effective ad-blocking experience while relying on Google’s own services, which have faced scrutiny for privacy issues.
As Google Chrome users prepare for the upcoming changes, the debate over the true impact of Manifest V3 on privacy, security, and resource efficiency continues to unfold.
