A new Google Chrome update aims to reduce the number of notifications sent by potentially harmful websites.
This Change (opens in new tab) Should mean the number of unwanted browser notifications users receive by blocking alerts from websites that Chrome defines as “destructive”.
discoverer 9to5Googlethe code change means Chrome will be able to automatically revoke a site’s permission to send notifications and block any future attempts to request permission.
Google Chrome Notifications
Google said it was taking action to enforce its “developer terms of service,” which included a pledge not to use the company’s API to send spam of any kind.
The change also means that even if a user accidentally allowed a malicious site to send a notification before, Chrome will now automatically go in and block the alert entirely.
Beyond that, Google hasn’t fully explained how it defines a site as “destructive,” but the move aims to fix one of the biggest problems with Chrome and other web browsers today.
“Notification spam is one of the main complaints we receive from Chrome users,” a Google spokesperson told 9to5Google. “The focus of this feature is to address this issue by ensuring that users only receive relevant notifications. We believe this work protects their interests on behalf of users and is an intervention under user control and discretion.”
Google had planned to take action against harmful notifications back in October 2020, when it blocked alerts from websites (opens in new tab) Attempts to request permission or abuse notices in a misleading manner and alert users that the site may have bad intentions.
There is no word on a specific release date for the new feature. But some testing may be needed before a wider rollout, so don’t hold your breath just yet.
