Google Chrome Changes Its Extension Strategy To Stop Dishonest Affiliate Marketing.

Google Chrome changes its extension strategy to stop dishonest affiliate marketing.

Google says that affiliate links, codes, or cookies should only be used when an app helps users.

Google Chrome stated that its policies will be changed to make it harder for browser extensions to use affiliate codes.

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Google released an update that changes how extensions can work with affiliate codes. This means that the controversial PayPal Honey extension will no longer be able to do what it does.

Google (through Artem Russakovskii) said on X (formerly Twitter) that apps can't add "affiliate links, codes, or cookies" that don't improve the user experience clearly and directly.

Google said that affiliate links, codes, or cookies should only be used when the extension gives the user a clear and direct benefit linked to its main function. You can't put in affiliate links that don't lead to something related for people or give them something of value.

Placing affiliate links where there is no discount, cashback, or gift is not allowed.

2. An add-on that adds partner links automatically in the background, even when the user doesn't do anything.

This goes after the behavior of PayPal's Honey extension, which was found to be taking over referral codes last year.

The new guideline from Google also says that extensions that add affiliates must do so after a "related user action."

1. An add-on that changes a cookie about shopping while the user is on a buying site without their knowledge.

2. An extension that increases the URL with an affiliate code or changes a current affiliate code in the URL without the user's knowledge.

3. An extension that uses affiliate coupon codes or changes them without the user's knowledge or action.

This new update helps keep the web environment healthy by making sure that affiliate earnings are in line with user benefits.