Google updates Chrome Web Store policy to disallow browser extensions like Honey

[Nohus]

Summary

Google updates Chrome Web Store policy to disallow browser extensions that tamper with affiliate links. In other words, what Honey does is now in breach of Google's policy. Enforcement of the new policy will begin June 10th 2025, and extensions found in violation may be subject to removal from the Chrome Web Store.

 

Quotes

Quote

The updated policy ensures that affiliate links are only included when they provide a direct and transparent benefit to users. This means that extensions cannot inject affiliate links when no actual value—such as a discount, cashback, or relevant offer—is being provided. Under this policy, an extension must not add, modify, or replace affiliate links [..]

 

My thoughts

 

Although the update obviously doesn't mention Honey, it seems clear to me that it's what prompted the policy change. Interestingly Honey currently has a "Featured" badge on the Store, will it last? The policy still allows replacing the affiliate link if it's done through a user action that brings a "direct benefit" to the user,  so I expect that the Honey extension will be updated to comply with the policy, and will only replace the affiliate links when it actually finds and applies a valid coupon code. They have 3 months to do so. It is likely a big blow to their "business model", as I imagine the vast majority of affiliate revenue they vacuum is from purchases that didn't make use of any code provided by them.

 

I wonder what prompted Google to make the policy change? I find it unlikely it was pressure from YouTubers, but who knows.

 

Sources

 

Attached: Email from Google I have received as I am a developer of an extension on the Chrome Web Store.

 

 

The updated policy is available here: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/webstore/program-policies/affiliate-ads

[Spotty]

Rare Google W. I'm not going to question it.

 

Here's Chrome's developer blog post about it for a hard source: https://developer.chrome.com/blog/cws-policy-update-affiliate-ads-2025?hl=en

 

3 minutes ago, Nohus said:

I wonder what prompted Google to make the policy change? I find it unlikely it was pressure from YouTubers, but who knows.

It wouldn't surprise me if there was a bunch of shady extensions that said they did X, while in the background were injecting their own affiliate codes.

[Kisai]

7 hours ago, Spotty said:

 

It wouldn't surprise me if there was a bunch of shady extensions that said they did X, while in the background were injecting their own affiliate codes.

 

My guess is there was a lot more than Honey doing it, but users wouldn't notice that "free ad blocker" changing or stripping the affiliate codes off links.

[Fasterthannothing]

Nah I'm still going to be using honey. I will die on the hill that I'd rather honey strip out affiliate links and atleast give me some money back in return for using theirs. I gain nothing from having people on social media take a cut of my purchases. 

[duncannah]

Brave was also caught doing this years ago

[leadeater]

Can I invest in Honey? Sounds like a great time to do it

[RejZoR]

20 hours ago, Fasterthannothing said:

Nah I'm still going to be using honey. I will die on the hill that I'd rather honey strip out affiliate links and atleast give me some money back in return for using theirs. I gain nothing from having people on social media take a cut of my purchases. 

You didn't listen or read everything about Honey have you? Not only they are stealing affiliate links, they are also ransoming stores to "buy" their packages for discounts so they put out smaller Honey discounts compared to what you could find online by hand. Which ultimately also hurts you because Honey only offers a 10% discount where if you manually found discount code, it could be 15%. The fact they were doing shady things to its own affiliates, how can you trust them in any way as a consumer either? I know I wouldn't. now, if it's so convenient that you don't care and just take 10% and be fine with it, okay then. I know I dropped Honey years ago because it literally never found a single coupon for ANYTHING. Not even on Amazon where you'd expect something at least if they don't index European shops or whatever.

 

Also complaining over affiliate links is weird. Sure, you don't have anything from them, but LTT does for example, which is the whole point of affiliate links. You are always free to just go to Amazon yourself and look for I don't know RTX 5080 or some UGreen powerbank instead of doing it through the link, bypassing everything. This has always been a thing. There is no harm in them really if presented openly. Sometimes whole "articles" or "reviews" are just an advertisement for something and then hidden affiliate link to make money. But that's not always the case. And even when they are sponsored videos I don't mind it when it's presented openly and done with some integrity like LTT kinda always had as far as I remember.

[Salted Spinach]

On 3/12/2025 at 7:38 AM, Nohus said:

I wonder what prompted Google to make the policy change?

Its the people who are pointing out to Google that

On 3/12/2025 at 7:38 AM, Nohus said:

Interestingly Honey currently has a "Featured" badge on the Store...

Google's revenue comes from companies, including the one that runs Honey

 

They need something to show "we are doing everything we can" while continuing to allow and enable the offending extensions

 

Just like on Youtube

[duncannah]

On 3/12/2025 at 12:38 AM, Nohus said:

Interestingly Honey currently has a "Featured" badge on the Store, will it last?

My small extension of 1,175 users also had this "Featured" badge for ages now, it's nothing significant.

[SansVarnic]

On 3/11/2025 at 6:38 PM, Nohus said:

I wonder what prompted Google to make the policy change? I find it unlikely it was pressure from YouTubers, but who knows.

Possibly because of the 3 lawsuits involved with honey...........

[maplepants]

On 3/12/2025 at 3:16 PM, Fasterthannothing said:

Nah I'm still going to be using honey. I will die on the hill that I'd rather honey strip out affiliate links and atleast give me some money back in return for using theirs. I gain nothing from having people on social media take a cut of my purchases. 

A big part of Honey's pitch to corporations is that they supress coupon codes for retailers. 

 

So they're not really saving you money, they're just scamming you and anyone who tries to make money with affiliate links. 

[Beskamir]

On 3/12/2025 at 8:47 AM, leadeater said:

Can I invest in Honey? Sounds like a great time to do it

If only there was some way to short it.