Google to remove some IAC browser extensions for 'policy violations'

Alphabet Inc's Google stated that it has removed a number of browser extensions of online conglomerate IAC/InterActive Corp for "policy violations" and is reviewing "enforcement options." The firm continues to have conversations with IAC related to Chrome Web Store policies and has already removed a number of their extensions for violating its policies. The tech giant is also reviewing the remaining extensions and enforcement options, and has not made a decision regarding IAC's status on the store.

Google is determined that IAC misled users about its browser extensions and that the Alphabet unit could go as far as banning those products from its Chrome browser. Google has taken hundreds of millions of dollars from us to advertise and distribute these products in the Chrome StoreGoogle's investigators found that IAC's browser extensions often promise functions they do not deliver and steer users toward extra ads.

Google so far has not acted on the internal recommendation of its Chrome trust and safety team regarding IAC in part because the two are rivals in some categories and because Google executives are concerned penalties could be viewed as anti-competitive. Google had approved its extensions in the Chrome Store for years as part of the companies' partnership agreement.