March 3, 2025 – 2:47 PM EST

In a seismic shift for internet users worldwide, Google has officially pulled the plug on uBlock Origin, the beloved ad-blocking extension, as part of its aggressive rollout of the Manifest V3 framework. Reports flooded in this morning from millions of Chrome users who awoke to find the extension disabled with a stark message: "This extension is no longer supported." The move marks the end of an era for one of the most powerful tools in the fight against online ads, trackers, and pop-ups.

The decision, long foreshadowed by Google's phased deprecation of the older Manifest V2 standard, has ignited a firestorm of backlash. On X, hashtags like #uBlockOriginDown and #GoogleKillsPrivacy are trending as users vent fury over what many call a "corporate power grab" to prioritize ad revenue over user control. "This is the day the internet died," one viral post declared, racking up over 50,000 retweets in hours.

uBlock Origin’s developer, Raymond Hill, confirmed that the full version of the extension cannot function under Manifest V3’s restrictive API limits, leaving users with a stripped-down alternative, uBlock Origin Lite, or a stark choice: abandon Chrome entirely. Firefox, which continues to support Manifest V2, has seen a reported 300% spike in downloads since noon, while Brave touts its built-in ad-blocking as a refuge for the displaced.

Tech analysts warn this could reshape the browser wars, with privacy advocates accusing Google of weaponizing Chrome’s 65% market share to choke out ad-blocking tools. "It’s not about security—it’s about control," said cybersecurity expert Dr. Lena Voss. Meanwhile, Google defends the shift, insisting Manifest V3 enhances user safety, though critics note the company’s $160 billion ad revenue last year tells a different story.

Stay tuned as this unfolds—users are already planning a "digital protest" by flooding Chrome’s review page with one-star ratings. Will this be the tipping point for a mass exodus from the browser giant? More updates as they come.