View Companies and Criteria Used to Serve Ads on Chrome

Latest Version

Version
0.0.2
Update
August 1, 2020
Size
937KiB
Developer
Category
Users
8,000+
Rating
3 ★
Manifest Version
2
Web Store Status
Languages Support
English (United States)
See more
Permissions
ActiveTab
Background
WebNavigation
WebRequest
WebRequestBlocking

See more

Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) Extension

Our new Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension for Chrome is part of our ongoing initiative to give people more visibility into the data used to personalize ads and more control over that data.

At the time of this alpha release (July 2020), it only shows information about those ads purchased through Google Ads that have implemented the Ad Disclosure Schema (https://github.com/Ads-Transparency-Spotlight/documentation/blob/main/implement.md). As others implement this schema, these ads will also appear in the extension. Over time, we hope the industry will incorporate the Ad Disclosure Schema into their ads. Learn more (https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/ads_transparency_spotlight_overview.pdf)

The extension includes the criteria used to show these ads, the ad tech companies helping to display these ads, and the ad platform companies serving these ads on a web page. It also lists all companies and services with a presence on the page (for example, content delivery networks or analytics providers). We are currently exploring other controls for users.

Our initial goal is to provide a tool for transparency into the criteria being used to show ads. Your feedback on this early version will help us shape the future versions of the extension.

Our ultimate goal is to support a more transparent ad ecosystem globally.

We hope you’ll try the extension and give us feedback so that we can continue to improve it.

Features:
• View detailed information about the ads on a web page
• View a list of ad providers responsible for delivering ads to the page
• View all companies and services that have a presence on the page (for example, content delivery networks or analytics providers), regardless of who has implemented the schema.
• View the reasons why ads are shown on a page

How to use the extension
1. After downloading the extension, the Ads Transparency Spotlight icon will appear at the top of the Chrome window.
2. Click the Ads Transparency Spotlight icon.
3. In the Ads Transparency Spotlight flyout:
• To view information about ads on the page, click the Ads tab.
• To view all companies that have a presence on the page, click the Entities tab. The extension shows all companies that have a presence on the page (for example, content delivery networks or analytics providers), regardless of who has implemented the schema.
• To get more information about this extension, click the How to participate button at the top of the extension.
4. IMPORTANT! Send us your feedback (https://forms.gle/E3pixhHefK7BBpHw6)

We appreciate your feedback on this browser extension. Your contributions will help us as we work to increase transparency in digital advertising.
Read more

Source Manifest.json

{"update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx", "manifest_version": 2, "name": "Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha)", "version": "0.0.2", "description": "View Companies and Criteria Used to Serve Ads on Chrome", "browser_action": { "default_icon": { "16": "images/icon_off_16.png" } }, "icons": { "16": "images/icon_on_16.png", "48": "images/icon_on_48.png", "128": "images/icon_on_128.png" }, "permissions": [ "activeTab", "background", "webNavigation", "webRequest", "webRequestBlocking", "" ], "background": { "persistent": true, "scripts": [ "background_bin.js", "debug_proxy_bin.js", "url_collector_bin.js" ] }, "content_scripts": [{ "matches": [""], "js": [ "drawer_bin.js" ] }], "web_accessible_resources": ["drawer.html"]}
Read more

How to download and manually install Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension for Chrome

Looking for a way to install Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extensions for Chrome, you can search for them in the Chrome Web Store, clicking the "Add to Chrome" button, and following the straightforward process.

However, you may need to install Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extensions manually, this article outlines two simple methods to effortlessly install Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extensions, whether they come as unpacked folders in compressed formats like .zip or as .crx files.

Method 1: Download Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension and manually install through Drag &Drop

If you ever need to manually install a Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension for Chrome, don't worry, it's a simple process. Just follow these easy steps, and you will have your extension ready to use in no time.

Step 1: Download the Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) Extension by clicking the "Download CRX" button on the website.

Look for the Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension you wish to install. Go to the website and download the Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension package, which is usually a .CRX file and comes in a zipped file. Here ".crx" file is the format for Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension that contains all the data.

Step 2: Extract &Arrange Files

Once the file is downloaded, extract that file into its own folder. Similarly, give that extension files a permanent home. In other words, keep it in a folder that you don't accidentally delete it because these files will be needed to make that extension work.

Step 3: Go to the Chrome Extensions Page

Open Google Chrome and in the address bar, type chrome://extensions; it will open the Google Chrome extensions page. Make sure that "My extensions" is selected in the sidebar.

Step 4: Drag and Drop the Extension

Now, go to the folder where you extracted the Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension and drag &drop the extension file from there anywhere onto the extension page within Google Chrome.

Step 5: Complete the Installation

Once you drag and drop the extension file, follow the steps that Google Chrome takes you through. Similarly, if the extension file is of .crx file format, you will be required to review the permissions and then add the extension.

Now, you can manage that added extension as you would like to with any other Chrome extension that you added through Chrome Webstore. Its icon will also appear in the Google Chrome Menu on the right side of the address bar once you activate it.

Method 2: Download Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension for Chrome and install in Developer Mode

This is another method to install Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension manually, but the twist is that here, you install by enabling the developer mode option provided in Google Chrome. This mode is commonly used for testing extensions or running unpublished tools.

Step 1: Download the Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension file

Select and download the Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension by clicking the 'Download CRX' button on the website.

Step 2: Extract the downloaded contents

Convert the file to a ZIP file if it is in CRX format then extract the Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension zip file or folder that you downloaded. Make sure you extract it using the same folder name and keep it safely in another folder, so you don't delete it by mistake. The extracted folder will be needed to keep your Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension running.

Step 3: Open Chrome Extension Setting Page

In the address bar of Google Chrome, type chrome://extensions and open the Chrome Extension Page.

Step 4: Enable Developer Mode

After opening the Chrome Extension page, look at the top right side, and you will find the toggle option of "Developer mode."Simply enable that developer mode option.

Step 5: Load the Unpacked Extension

Once you enable the developer mode option, you will see the menu of Load Unpacked, Pack Extensions and Update. From that, select the option "Load unpacked."

Step 6: Select the Extension Folder

Once the pop-up opens upon clicking Load unpacked, select the Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension directory and click on the "Select Folder "button.

Step 7: Confirm and Install

After you select an extension folder of a Google Chrome extension you're installing manually, confirm its installation for the final time and let the installation complete.

Conclusion

Here we've made a step-by-step guide on How to manually install Ads Transparency Spotlight (Alpha) extension in 2 ways. We hope this guide proves helpful.

Similar Extensions

icon

Adwizard Extension · Productivity 8,000+ 12 ★ 1.27MiB

icon

Headerbid Expert Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 23 ★ 32.83KiB

icon

Link to Text Fragment Extension · Productivity 8,000+ 153 ★ 94.02KiB

icon

PubGuru Ad Inspector Extension · Productivity 8,000+ 40 ★ 84.34KiB

icon

Web Vitals Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 43 ★ 398KiB

icon

BidFilter Header Bidding Analysis Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 6 ★ 1.48MiB

icon

ClearURLs Extension · Productivity 8,000+ 205 ★ 829KiB

icon

MyAdPrice Extension · Social & Communication 8,000+ 3 ★ 499KiB

icon

UET Tag Helper (by Microsoft Advertising) Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 25 ★ 216KiB

icon

WASP.inspector: Analytics Solution Profiler Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 189 ★ 401KiB

icon

Password Alert Extension · Productivity 8,000+ 896 ★ 324KiB

icon

PixelBlock Extension · Accessibility 8,000+ 221 ★ 176KiB

icon

Simplify Gmail Extension · Productivity 8,000+ 608 ★ 9.57MiB

icon

Professor Prebid Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 12 ★ 1.13MiB

icon

Ugly Email Extension · Productivity 8,000+ 350 ★ 340KiB

icon

dataslayer Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 80 ★ 417KiB

icon

Analytics Debugger Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 211 ★ 300KiB

icon

Da Vinci Tools Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 34 ★ 1.2MiB

icon

Gmail Sender Icons Extension · Productivity 8,000+ 127 ★ 1.39MiB

icon

Datalayer Checker Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 33 ★ 93.13KiB

icon

Adswerve - dataLayer Inspector+ Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 56 ★ 517KiB

icon

Tune (experimental) Extension · Social & Communication 8,000+ 28 ★ 915KiB

icon

NewsGuard Extension · News & Weather 8,000+ 519 ★ 1.57MiB

icon

AdTech Ad Inspector Extension · Developer Tools 8,000+ 7 ★ 897KiB

User reviews

icon

Charlie Gosh (ID: 000000fee06bbd2d) Voted 1 ★ - Updated 12/09/2022 So let me get this straight. Over 10,000 users in over 2 years, one other review, one very bizarre response under the "Support" tab, no instructions of any kind (thus, I still don't have any idea what it actually does). And it took 3 months to respond to the only other review. Sorry, I have no need to give unhampered access to anyone without a very good reason. Uninstalling. (Do you keep my data?)

icon

Антон Глущенко (ID: 000000bb61c4887b) Voted 1 ★ - Updated 01/15/2021 бесполезное и мусорное расширение

icon

Хоуми из Коми (ID: 0000003387ae1edf) Voted 1 ★ - Updated 01/05/2021 Не отображает информации, ради которой устанавливалось это расширение

icon

Paul Jongen (ID: 0000008c186be8ca) Voted 1 ★ - Updated 08/04/2020 It works if you allow access to all pages. Once you switch the options to 'when I click the button', you only keep getting a message to reload the page. The INFO page doesn't show up. I don't want to give any extension access to ALL pages. Several sites that are loaded with ads, give no information at ALL. Useless.