[nosuchthing]

Seems almost like extortion.. the advertisers already paid for advertising but now Crystal demands additional payments from the advertisers or else it blocks the ads. The websites don't seem to get any additional payment from Crystal for this "vetting".

[epistasis]

It could seem like extortion, or it could seem like certification. Websites have proven that they're terrible at vetting ads for security and intrusiveness, they do not care about that. By paying a different company to perform the certification, then there's less of a conflict of interest.

Of course, this depends on trusting someone. Trust can be misplaced, but I already know I can't trust websites, so Im looking for someone else.

[manigandham]

The adblocker companies cant be trusted either since they only stand to gain from this behaviour. ABP makes tens of millions from this.

The only way trust works is if there's a neutral 3rd party that represents all sides and has respect.

[outericky]

Certification in your sense is conforming to a certain standard. This is extortion.

Basically "conforming" is paying. That's extortion. Pay are demands or no soup for you.