Can we really trust Google as judge, jury and executioner of online ads?
Alex Hern
Google turns on default adblocker within Chrome
June 2017
Google to build adblocker into Chrome browser to tackle intrusive ads
Google hopes it can improve browsing experience and protect its business model by only blocking the most annoying ads
April 2017
Google 'may build an adblocker into Chrome'
From nasty to nice: how adblockers are trying to pivot
October 2016
Publishing and platforms
Ad-blockers: are publishers tempted to feed the hand that bites them?
An ad-blocking firm’s move to charge publishers to serve whitelisted ads has raised eyebrows across the industry
August 2016
Mobile phone networks should not block adverts, says EU
Regulatory body Berec issues guidelines that could benefit publishers struggling with commercial effects of ad-blocking
ISPs that restrict porn or block ads could be breaking EU guidelines
Sky, BT, TalkTalk and O2, which block access to adult content, could be affected – even if customers opt in
Facebook will start bypassing adblockers on desktop browsers
Users of mobile adblockers will continue to experience an ad-free version, and Adblock Plus warns the decision ‘takes a dark path against user choice’
June 2016
Peter Preston on press and broadcasting
Charging money to go ad-free? The New York Times meets the BBC
Peter Preston
Former corporation man Mark Thompson has hit on a new, yet strikingly familiar, formula for revenues in the digital age
I’m being chased around the internet by a shed
Stuart Heritage
I’m more than happy to be advertised to – but products pursuing you from site to site can feel like a nagging puppy tugging on your trouser leg
‘Bible of trends’ for the media industry charts more famine than feast
Emily Bell
From adblocking to a slowdown in mobile phone sales, investment company’s slide deck indicates the end of growth
May 2016
Three network to run 24-hour adblocking trial
Mobile provider claims network level adblocking is attempt to provide greater privacy, lower data costs and better experience accessing web on devices
Agencies
'We must be smarter with ads' – five lessons for agencies from the US
From authentic brands to smart ads, five American advertising and marketing professionals share insights from 2016
Adblockers: US growth could remove $12bn advertising by 2020
Adblock Plus 'on more than 100 million devices'
Pirate Bay founder and Adblock maker offer web users a way to pay publishers
April 2016
Almost half of those planning to use an adblocker say they just don't like ads
KPMG report also finds that 44% of UK adults are planning to block ads within the next six months
Adblocking is helping the digital sharks eat the minnows – what’s the solution?
Andrew Brown
If no one finds a better way to moderate the conflict between advertisers and net users the likes of Mark Zuckerberg will get richer as small sites are crushed
Future of advertising
Adblocking could be the best thing for the advertising industry
Tom Goodwin
It’s time for creative industries to connect with people in a meaningful way, not serve up irrelevant ads. But what’s holding us back?
