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Is Google’s Single Purpose Policy Destroying Essential Privacy Tools for Chrome Users?
Google just blocked Windscribe’s Chrome extension update, and the reason might surprise you. The VPN company got hit with a rejection notice on June 30, 2025, because their extension had “too many privacy features.” Yes, you read that right – Google thinks privacy tools can do too much.
What Happened to Windscribe’s Extension
Windscribe tried to update their Chrome extension but ran into Google’s “Single Purpose Policy” wall. The Chrome Web Store team said their extension violated the rules by offering “multiple unrelated functionalities.” These features included masking your location, getting around censorship, and blocking ads and trackers.
To most people, these sound like they go hand-in-hand for online privacy. But Google sees them as separate functions that don’t belong together. They told Windscribe to pick one feature and stick with it.
The company didn’t take this quietly. They posted on X (formerly Twitter): “It appears Google is going full evil. We cannot update our browser extension…. because it has too many privacy features.” That’s a pretty strong statement, but they weren’t done yet.
Google’s Single Purpose Policy Explained
Google created this policy back in 2013 to keep Chrome extensions focused. The idea was simple: one extension, one job. They wanted to stop extensions from becoming bloated toolbars that slowed down browsers and confused users.
Here’s what Google considers a single purpose:
- One narrow focus area (like “weather” or “shopping”)
- One specific browser function (like “new tab page” or “tab management”)
The policy makes sense for some extensions. But for privacy tools, it creates problems. When you’re trying to protect yourself online, you need multiple layers of defense. Blocking ads, hiding your location, and stopping trackers all work together.
Why This Matters for Privacy
Privacy isn’t just one thing – it’s a system. Think about it like home security. You don’t just lock your front door and call it good. You might also have an alarm system, security cameras, and motion lights. Each piece does something different, but they all protect your home.
Online privacy works the same way. Ad blockers stop companies from tracking your clicks. VPNs hide your location. Anti-tracking tools prevent websites from building profiles about you. Split these up into separate extensions, and you’re asking users to manage multiple tools that should work together.
The Real Impact on Users
This policy puts users in a tough spot. Instead of one extension that handles privacy completely, you might need three or four different ones. That means:
- More extensions to install and manage
- Higher chance of conflicts between different tools
- Increased memory usage on your browser
- More potential security risks from multiple developers
Windscribe pointed out another problem: other browsers aren’t much better. Brave uses the Chrome Web Store too, so the same rules apply. Firefox has its own review process with different challenges.
What Windscribe Is Doing About It
The company has been working on this problem for over a year. They rebuilt their entire extension for Manifest V3 (Google’s new extension system) while trying to keep all the features users love. They managed to maintain most functions, except for the ad-blocking limitations that affect all extensions now.
For users who want the full experience, Windscribe suggests using Firefox, where their original extension still works with full ad-blocking power. They also recommend using their desktop app alongside any browser extension for complete protection.
The Bigger Picture
This situation shows how much control Google has over the browser extension world. Most Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Vivaldi) rely on the Chrome Web Store. When Google makes a policy decision, it affects millions of users across multiple browsers.
The timing is interesting too. Google has been pushing Manifest V3, which already limits how well ad blockers can work. Now they’re using the Single Purpose Policy to further restrict privacy tools. Some see this as Google protecting its advertising business, since blocked ads mean less revenue.
What You Can Do
If you’re a Windscribe user or care about browser privacy, you have options:
- Switch to Firefox and use the full-featured extension
- Use Windscribe’s desktop app for system-wide protection
- Combine the limited Chrome extension with their desktop software
- Voice your concerns to Google about these policy restrictions
The fight between privacy advocates and big tech companies isn’t new. But this case shows how platform policies can limit the tools we use to protect ourselves online. Whether Google will change their stance remains to be seen, but the conversation about digital privacy and corporate control is far from over.