Announced today, Google will no longer feature extensions that contain cryptocurrency mining scripts in its Chrome Web Store.
Starting today, Google's Chrome Web Store will no longer accept[1] cryptocurrency mining extensions, and currently-listed mining extensions will be eliminated from the online marketplace no later than the end of June.
Google had previously allowed cryptocurrency mining extensions (under specific[2] criteria[3]) but after a ban on cryptocurrency advertisements[4] was announced in early March, Google has now taken the additional step of removing extensions that contain mining scripts for cryptocurrencies.
"Unfortunately," wrote Google's extensions platform product manager, James Wagner, "90% of all extensions with mining scripts that developers have attempted to upload to Chrome Web Store have failed to comply with" Google's policies, "and have been either rejected or removed from the store."
Compliance was dependent upon whether mining was the "extension's single purpose" and whether the user was "adequately informed about the mining behavior."
It remains unclear whether Google's latest action is a result of increasing pressure from regulators and law enforcement authorities, or if the internet giant has taken these additional steps of its own accord.
Jordan Daniell is a full-time staff writer for ETHNews with a passionate interest in techno-social developments and cultural evolution. Jordan enjoys the outdoors, especially astronomy, and likes to play the bag pipes and explore southern California on foot in his spare time. Jordan lives in Los Angeles and holds value in Ether.
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References
- ^ no longer accept (blog.chromium.org)
- ^ specific (developer.chrome.com)
- ^ criteria (developer.chrome.com)
- ^ advertisements (www.ethnews.com)
- ^ Editorial Policy (www.ethnews.com)
- ^ Twitter @ETHNews_ (twitter.com)
