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0 pointsbausson12y ago0 comments

With ad-block, I can allow non-invasive ads to reach me, while blocking others (with sound, flash, some ads provider). This is a useful service, and I can donate for it, because it doesn't feel wrong.

But why hidding /removing the ads in gmail feel wrong? Because they are not too visible. The only bad/intrusive part of gmail ads is the mail parsing to select which ad will be shown. I have no proof, but I strongly suspect this will be done even if I hide them, so nothing to win there.

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Killswitch12y ago· 1 in thread

Justify it however you want, it's all wrong. These services are provided free of charge in exchange for displaying ads. Don't like the ads? Don't use the service.

exodust12y ago

That's like saying "don't skip ads on free-to-air TV, don't like ads? Don't watch free to air TV".

In regards to what we are giving in exchange for the free service, there's all sorts of tracking activity, contact and content mining, and general Google account-related user information that we share with Google in order to feed Google's database.

Google aims to feed its database to improve its products and make its products more attractive to partners. Ads in Gmail are only part of the story of how Google gets rich from your stream of personal data. A few ads shown on the Gmail interface is not how Google is making its billions.

tempestn12y ago

I believe the ad-hiding feature in this app is optional as well, so you can have it let ads through, to be managed by ABP as you like.

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