Google has updated its Chrome extension policies to crack down on affiliate ads, following a viral YouTube video exposing PayPal’s coupon Chrome extension, Honey. The new policy requires affiliates to provide direct and transparent user benefits related to their core functionality.
Honey, a Chrome extension from PayPal, alerts users when it detects a coupon code relevant to their e-commerce shopping cart in exchange for enabling PayPal’s affiliate link on the user’s computer. However, many users were unaware of how the extension worked, leading to complaints that Honey was stealing sales from content creators who rely on affiliate links.
The new policy states that affiliate links must only be included when there is a direct and transparent user benefit related to the extension’s core functionality. Google has also clarified that a user must take action for an extension to inject an affiliate code, and any changes to existing affiliate links without user knowledge are not permitted.
This update appears to target Honey’s tactics but does not affect legitimate coupon and cashback-related Chrome extensions that provide users with useful services. The policy change aims to protect content creators who rely on affiliate sales as a significant portion of their revenue.
Source: https://mashable.com/article/google-chrome-extension-policy-change-paypal-honey-scandal