# Adblocking

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The primary purpose of ad blockers, in line with people's expectations, is blocking online advertisements on apps. It is surprising and worrying to discover that a select few ad blocker companies have been earning enormous bucks for not blocking adverts from various advertisers (Taylor, 2020). This shocking discovery lays the basis for Taylor's story about the proliferation of Acceptable Ads and their threat to people's privacy. In the past, installing an ad blocker ascertained one's privacy and protection from obstructive and annoying ads. That is not the case today, unfortunately. Taylor (2020) notes that a 2011 decision allowing the display of advertisements in exchange for payment spelled doom for many who had enjoyed safe and unobstructed net surfing.

Nowadays, various Ad blocker companies participate in the Acceptable Ads program, allowing hundreds of advertising companies to display their ads to consumers. These actions contradict customers' expectations, threaten their privacy and safety, and undermine the primary purpose of ad blocker companies. The primary concern is how the government will help ensure web users' privacy. The trouble is that most popular ad blockers participate in the Acceptable Ads program and enter users by default. Also, the program does not protect one's data from being harvested or having their device tracked and data sold to other ad networks. According to Taylor, the best option for web users is to choose an ad blocker that has not joined the program or opt out of seeing Acceptable Ads (2020). However, these are not lasting solutions. Government intervention is needed to ensure transparency and accountability on the part of ad blockers and awareness on the customers' part.