Google Chrome will hunt unwanted notifications on websites that abuse it. The objective is clear: to protect users of their browser from untimely interruptions.
Although Chrome is facing more and more competition, it remains the undisputed leader in the web browser market. A place that it owes in particular to the new functionalities from which it benefits regularly. Today, Google has decided to take the second step to combat the growing number of unwanted notifications faced by Chrome users. The search giant does not intend to sit idly by.
Notification spam is one of the biggest complaints we get from Chrome users. This feature aims to solve this problem by ensuring that users only receive relevant notifications. We view this work as acting on behalf of users to protect their interests, and it remains under the control and discretion of the user.
Google had already tackled the problem by switching notifications from sites that abuse it to “silent” mode, while warning the user. But a code change in Chromium suggests that the company wants to step up its fight against spam by revoking the permission of certain sites to send notifications altogether. Concretely, Google will be able to intervene to cut them, including if you have authorized them (voluntarily or not).
When Google Chrome comes to moderate the web
While Google’s goal of limiting spam on Chrome is laudable, it questions the company’s role in what looks like moderating our web browsing. This feature shouldn’t affect the overwhelming majority of websites, only those found to be abusing Google notifications. A functionality that would ultimately be similar to that of our mailboxes which filters messages deemed undesirable by placing them in the “spam” tab. A system that works relatively well, despite a few hiccups from time to time.
This isn’t the first time Google Chrome has stepped into this moderating role. Indeed, the software already does this by limiting access to unsecured websites. A useful feature that can be disabled in the browser settings. Google justifies this decision to fight against unwanted notifications, because they violate the “developer terms of use” which specify not to use Google APIs to send spam.
This new functionality is only at the beginning of its development, it will be necessary to wait a few more months before seeing it arrive more widely on the most used browser in the world.
Source :
9to5Google