Google Chrome is cracking down on annoying notifications TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Google Chrome is cracking down on annoying notifications By Mike Moore published 2 June 2022 Chrome wants to stop notifications from abusive and disruptive websites (Image credit: Shutterstock) Audio player loading… A new Google Chrome update looks to cut down on the amount of notifications being sent by potentially harmful websites. The change (opens in new tab) should mean that the number of unwanted browser notifications users receive by blocking alerts from websites that Chrome defines as "disruptive." Spotted by 9to5Google, the code change means that Chrome will be able to automatically revoke a website's permission to send notifications and block any future attempts to ask for the permission. Google Chrome notifications Google says that it is acting in order to enforce its "Developer Terms of Service," which include a pledge not to use the company's APIs to send any form of spam. The change also means that even if a user had accidentally previously allowed a malicious site to send notifications, Chrome will now automatically move in and block the alerts completely. Asides from this, Google hasn't explained entirely quite how it defines a website as "disruptive", but the move looks to address one of the biggest problems with Chrome and other web browsers today. "Notification spam is one of the top complaint reports we receive from Chrome users," a Google spokesperson told 9to5Google. "This feature is focused on addressing this problem by ensuring users are only receiving relevant notifications. We see this work as acting on behalf of users to protect their interests, and is an intervention that is under user control and discretion."Read more> Google Chrome users urged to update immediately or risk attack (opens in new tab) > Watch out Google Chrome - Safari has taken a huge bite into the browser market (opens in new tab) > Browser wars: Has Microsoft Edge completely lost its way? (opens in new tab) Google had aimed to act on harmful notifications back in October 2020, when it blocked alerts from sites (opens in new tab) that attempted to ask for permission or abuse notifications in a misleading way, with users given a prompt that the site may have bad intentions at heart. There's no news of a concrete release date for the new feature just yet. but it will probably require some testing before a wider rollout, so don't hold your breath for a rollout just yet.Shield your browsing activity from prying eyes with the best proxy services around Mike MooreDeputy Editor, TechRadar ProMike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport. See more Software news Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to theTechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me2Stop saying Mario doesn't have an accent in The Super Mario Bros. Movie3Google Pixel Tablet is what Apple should've done ages ago4RTX 4090 too expensive? Nvidia resurrects another old favorite5More than one million credit card details leaked online1Best laptops for designers and coders 2The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me3Stop saying Mario doesn't have an accent in The Super Mario Bros. Movie4iPhone 15 tipped to come with an upgraded 5G chip5Google Pixel Tablet is what Apple should've done ages ago Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)● (opens in new tab)The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviewsFrom$12.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)