Google Ad Injection
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> Now, we’ll extract interesting information from Google Knowledge Graph entities and highlight them in line. When the user clicks on the highlighted entity, it will open the app tray, so you can easily find out more information, right when curiosity strikes. This new experience allows people to quickly get additional context about people, places or things.
These aren't ads as in what is served through AdWords.
Adwords is only a small part of the modern day Google's monetization efforts. Today, they're doing everything they can to prevent users navigating away from Google property[1]. They plagiarize content from other websites and put it above search results. By 2020, less than 2/3 of Google searches ended in a click to traditional search results [2]. Why would they do that? So that they can show you more ads, of course.
This is yet another attempt to direct users away from the websites they were browsing to Google's ad platform. It's particularly egregious because it's disguised as the website's own doing.
[1]: https://themarkup.org/google-the-giant/2020/07/28/google-sea...
[2]: https://sparktoro.com/blog/in-2020-two-thirds-of-google-sear...
I actually wouldn't mind having this in my mobile browser, assuming it works well.
That being said I agree, if there's one criticism that is valid it's that this app should allow you to choose your providers. Anybody knows if it already does?
The plain fact is that Google is injecting its own content at its own discretion while disguising it to make it look like it's the website owner that did it. What would you think if I randomly injected my own promotional content in your HN comments in a way that's indistinguishable from your own writing? A few, if any, people on this site might not mind, but the overwhelming majority will.
> What would you think if I randomly injected my own promotional content in your HN comments in a way that's indistinguishable from your own writing
It's a simplification, but in short if you create a bad browser, people won't use it.
You, as a website owner, can opt out via: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1h9I0TbN-H_1e85CqXYb1ng7rQfg...
> What would you think if I randomly injected my own promotional content in your HN comments in a way that's indistinguishable from your own writing?
Through what vector, the Unofficial Hacker News for iOS app that you maintain? Because that's the correct analogy here.
Also stating 'promotional content' is being disingenuous to the type of Google content states it will surface through these links, see my other comment on this thread.
I'm not in support of what Google is doing but I think we should be fair in our assessment and especially in our presentation of our assessment to others.
In other words, Google dictates the terms. I was forcibly opted in to this without my knowledge. To say no to this, I need a Google account and agree to their terms of service. How is anyone but Google in control here?
> Through what vector, the Unofficial Hacker News for iOS app that you maintain?
Through a browser, ISP, or unlawful access to HN servers. Doesn't matter. It's shady to disguise your own content as someone else's work.
> Also stating 'promotional content' is being disingenuous to the type of Google content states it will surface through these links, see my other comment on this thread.
I stand by my words. Please see the reply to your other comment.