Microsoft Edge users recently discovered that uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2-based extensions had been automatically disabled, preventing them from effectively blocking ads and trackers.
The move follows Google’s enforcement of Manifest V3, which began restricting network-level ad-blocking in Google Chrome in October 2024. Since Edge is built on the same Chromium framework as Chrome, Microsoft’s decision was widely anticipated but was implemented quietly, without prior announcement to users.
Google first introduced Manifest V3 as an upgrade to its browser extension system, citing security benefits and better resource efficiency.
However, privacy advocates and extension developers argue that it primarily serves to weaken content blockers by eliminating the webRequest API, which allowed tools like uBlock Origin to filter ads before they loaded.
Instead, Manifest V3 forces extensions to use a more restrictive declarativeNetRequest API, limiting how many rules can be applied at once and reducing their effectiveness.
Google’s Push Against Manifest V2 and Its Wider Impact
Google originally announced its Manifest V3 transition in 2019, but after developer criticism, it delayed enforcement in 2022. By October 2024, Chrome users noticed that ad blockers relying on Manifest V2 had stopped functioning.
Microsoft’s silent enforcement of the same policy in Edge reinforces the growing shift among major browsers toward restricting third-party content blockers.
Unlike Google, whose revenue depends heavily on online advertising, Microsoft’s decision appears to be more about maintaining compatibility with Chromium rather than directly benefiting from reduced ad blocking.
YouTube’s Efforts to Block Ad Blockers Extend Beyond Browsers
While browsers are limiting ad-blocking functionality, YouTube has also taken aggressive steps against users who avoid its ads. Reports from May 2024 revealed that users with ad blockers enabled experienced issues where videos would either skip to the end or become stuck in an endless buffering loop.
Disabling the ad blocker restored normal playback, suggesting that the platform was deliberately interfering with users who tried to bypass ads.
This follows YouTube’s previous measures, including pop-up warnings in 2023 informing users that ad blockers violated the platform’s terms of service. These efforts align with Google’s broader push to ensure its ad-based revenue model remains intact by making it increasingly difficult to access content without watching advertisements.
Microsoft’s AI-Powered Security Measures Arrive While Privacy Controls Are Weakened
At the same time that Microsoft is restricting advanced ad-blocking tools, it has been promoting new security features. In January 2025, the company introduced an AI-powered scareware blocker designed to detect fake security alerts and deceptive pop-ups. The tool operates locally, identifying fraudulent warning messages that trick users into downloading malware or purchasing fake antivirus software.
While this addition enhances security, it does not address the privacy concerns raised by the removal of powerful ad blockers. Many users see a contradiction in Microsoft’s positioning of Edge as a secure browser while simultaneously limiting tools that help reduce online tracking and intrusive ads.
