Google retracts on chrome extensions after the honey scandal

At the end of last year, a YouTube video discovering the shaded affiliation tactics of the Paypal coupon chrome extension, Honey, went viral.

The 23 -minute video by YouTube Creator Coagulation received more than 17 million views and has stimulated proceedings against Paypal from YouTubers as Legal eagle And Gamersnexus.

Following the honey exhibition, Google has now changed Chrome extension policies Regarding affiliated advertisements and marketing.

What is honey?

First, as a recycling, Honey is a chrome extension of Paypal which alerts users when it detects a relevant coupon code for their current electronic commerce basket. In exchange for providing the user with this coupon code, Honey allows the paypal affiliation link to the user’s computer so that PayPal receives a credit for the purchase of the customer. Paypal receives monetary compensation for each purchase made via its affiliation link from the electronic commercial store.

However, it seems that many honey users were not aware of the operation of the Chrome extension. Megalag’s video also stressed that Honey inserted her affiliation link even if he had not discovered relevant active coupon code. In addition, Honey would also replace an existing affiliation link, or hence the purchase of the buyer really comes, by his in order to be credited for the sale.

While honey users have been exasperated on Honey affiliation liaison tactics, the movement is actually shaded by content creators. YouTubers and other creators often recommend products, and their fans make their purchase via the creator’s affiliation link to support them. Affiliation sales can often represent a substantial part of the income of a creator. Honey mainly stole these creators sales.

New Google Chrome extension policies

Honey tactics have led to the deployment of Google new affiliation advertising policies for chrome extensions.

According to the new policy, which is available on the Chrome for website developers“Affiliation links, codes or cookies should only be included when the extension offers a direct and transparent user advantage linked to the main extension functionality. It is not authorized to inject affiliation links without related user action and without providing a tangible advantage to users.”

To make it clearly clearly, Google has even provided some examples which would be in violation of this policy, such as the insertion of an affiliation link when no coupon, cashback or other reduction is provided. In addition, Google says that a user must take measures for an extension to inject an affiliate code. The extension cannot simply insert the affiliation code without being manually invited to do so by the user.

“The related user’s action is required before the inclusion of each affiliation code, link or cookie” reads the following section of the policy.

This section clearly indicates that an extension chrome must inform the user if he replaces an affiliation link existing by his. Any Chrome extension replacing an affiliation link without the knowledge of a user violates Google’s policies.

By browsing politics, it seems that it is a fairly targeted response to the affiliated tactics of Honey. Nor does it seem to affect the legitimate usefulness that honey and other coupons – and chroms extensions linked to money backing – provide users.