[bad_user]

Some of us pay for YouTube Premium.

One can argue that if you don't want ads, and you don't want to pay for a subscription, then maybe you shouldn't use that website.

Because continued use is just like software piracy. It's imoral because you're getting subsidized by those playing fair, but also because alternatives can't thrive unless you choose to vote with your wallet or eyeballs. It's the same reason piracy was imoral, as it kept people using the incumbents, instead of using alternatives that were open-source.

[TerrifiedMouse]

> Some of us pay for YouTube Premium.

I have considered that actually but it would mean I have to give them my credit card thereby tying my real identity to the Google/YouTube account. I might consider it if they sold those gift cards that you can buy with cash at a convenience store.

[bad_user]

This is a good reason, but it's niche, and such level of privacy isn't sustainable for most people. Because they are Google, and they know the location of your IP address better than anyone (since they have Wi-fi info, too), so if you can't trust them at all and fear repercussions, you'd better access them via Tor or some VPN you can trust.

Personally, I trust my local authorities, since I'm an EU citizen and the GDPR applies. I know this may be naive, but Google has implemented many changes in response to the GDPR already, and for me it's the only alternative short of avoiding them completely.

Speaking of Chromium, forks still exist, like Vivaldi or Brave, and they ship with ads blockers that are not subject to the limitations of Manifest v3.

[TerrifiedMouse]

Google tracking me and figuring out my identity is one thing and me giving my real life identity to them on a platter is another. There is zero doubt in the latter.

Again, the solution is simple, sell YouTube gift cards. Steam can do it. I think iTunes does it. It should be trivial for a company of Google’s size.