[skybrian]

Here’s what they claim to be “dark patterns:”

* Prompts to install Chrome and make it your default browser. (Safari and Edge do the same; this is a tactic that’s been common since the browser wars between Netscape and IE.)

* The built-in password manager and synchronization using a Google account.

* Ads on Google Search for Chrome.

* Built-in DRM and the companies like Spotify that require it.

* Some Google services like Google Meet and Google Earth were implemented for Chrome first.

* Advertisers can place ads using AdWords on Google Search and this is first-party, rather than third-party advertising, which matters when third-party cookies are blocked.

* Google Ads provides Google with insight into the popularity of other websites. (As does running the most popular search engine, I will add.)

* Chrome’s long-delayed blocking of third-party cookies is finally happening, but first-party cookies are unaffected.

* Moving Google services from other domains to google.com subdomains means that they can share cookies without being affected by third-party cookie restrictions.

That’s quite a long list of competitive advantages! And there are more! It’s good to be a big tech company that most people use. They aren’t dark patterns, though? None of this seems surprising?

I still think Chrome blocking third-party cookies will be a good thing. I guess that’s the paradox, what’s better for privacy isn’t good for competition.

[AlexandrB]

It's only somewhat related to Chrome, but I'm surprised this doesn't mention Google AMP - probably because it's thankfully on its way out. AMP broke web browsing on non-Google browsers, especially IMHO in iOS where scrolling was borked on every AMP page.

There's also the Chrome "feature" where logging into a Google property automatically logs you into a Chrome "profile" whether you like it or not. I don't want a Chrome "profile", I didn't give Google permission to create one, but I'm still apparently logged into one. Gee, thanks...

[reaperducer]

Prompts to install Chrome and make it your default browser. (Safari and Edge do the same

Where is it that people get nagged to install Safari? When visiting Apple's web site?

Since Safari is my primary browser, I don't get prompted to install it, so I'm genuinely curious.

[talldayo]

I remember this one being delightful: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252412228?sortBy=best

[izacus]

My MacBook keeps periodically nagging me via notifications to use Safari.

[vundercind]

No way they’d do it on ordinary Apple.com. They don’t give enough shits about people using their browser that’s only available at all if you already gave them money to let that interrupt any part of the process of giving them more money.

Maybe on the iCloud website? Which I never visit on Apple devices anyway because there are apps for everything…

[vundercind]

Just tried Apple.com in chrome on macOS. Only nag I see is… for chrome, because it’s not my default browser but Google wants it to be.

I’m not logged into iCloud on there, but the site itself and the login form neither complain about my not visiting it in Safari.

[skybrian]

I believe that if you own a Mac, normally use Chrome, and open Safari, it will ask if you want to make it the default. Maybe some other time? Not a big deal, really.

[suddenexample]

> Some Google services like Google Meet and Google Earth were implemented for Chrome first.

Chuckled at this one - "yes now they support all platforms but they were on Chrome first! Malice!"

[nolongerthere]

The malice comes from them specifically blocking it from working on nonchrome browsers, if you changed your US to chrome it had no issues working on safari or Firefox.

YouTube is similarly made to be slower and less useable on Firefox, but if you change your us to chrome it suddenly gets better

[ziddoap]

>That’s quite a long list of competitive advantages!

Calling this list a list of "competitive advantages" seems about as accurate as calling them "dark patterns".

The only competitive advantages I see in your list is the fact that they get to use both advertisement data and search data, so they can better manipulate you into buying things.

The rest is either stuff that is on every browser, isn't an advantage, or isn't specific to Chrome.

[andrewla]

The native support for logging in to Google services is unique to Chrome. This should either be expanded to support other identity providers, or (preferably) removed entirely from the browser.

[htk]

Absolutely! Let's not dilute the meaning of "dark patterns".