Google u-turns on its decision to ban Samsung's ad blocker app
Google has u-turned on its decision to ban Samsung’s ad blocking app, according to a blog post from the app’s developer Rocketship.
The AdBlock Fast app was pulled from the top spot on the Google Play Store last week, just days after its initial release.
The app was among a handful of new plugins for Samsung’s preinstalled browser that allows users to block content and apps from appearing when viewing web sites.
Google maintained that developer Rocketship had violated its guidelines prohibiting apps or plugins from "interfering" or "disrupting" devices, networks, or services of third parties. As a result it removed the app however the other plugins which operated the same way were never removed.
Rocketship filed for an appeal on Google’s decision last week and announced via a blog post that it had been reinstated.
The controversy surrounding the app illustrates Google's sensitivity over apps interfering with its advertising, especially on web browsers where it generates the majority of its ad revenue.