Despite using Brave with Shields enabled, ads are still being forced through on YouTube — either embedded in the video stream itself, or by triggering a 5-second delay/black screen if ad blockers are detected. This undermines the entire point of using a privacy-respecting browser and violates user trust.
Worse, even with community blocking scripts and up-to-date filter lists (e.g., uBlock filters, AdGuard Annoyances, EasyPrivacy), YouTube still finds ways to circumvent protections and push ads on users who have clearly opted out.
This feels like coercion. Ads should not be forced on users who actively take steps to block them. While YouTube may legally enforce ads through their platform, it arguably constitutes unethical behavior, and some jurisdictions may view these tactics — especially when tied to tracking — as violations of digital rights or data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA).
To be blunt: forcing ads on users who use ad blockers is a hostile and possibly unlawful act. Ads should be opt-in, not embedded via deceptive methods.
We’re at a point where “Big Tech” is waging war on user autonomy. This browser was built on standing up to that — so please take action.
Despite using Brave with Shields fully enabled, ads are still being forcibly pushed through on YouTube — often embedded directly into the video stream or by triggering a 5-second delay or blackout if any form of ad blocking is detected. This defeats the core purpose of using a privacy-first browser and disrespects users who have clearly opted out of ad tracking and monetization schemes. Even with the most up-to-date filter lists, custom scripts, and community fixes, YouTube continues to deploy increasingly aggressive, anti-consumer tactics designed to override user control and punish those who refuse to be tracked or monetized. These tactics are not just unethical — they should be considered illegal, particularly under frameworks like the GDPR, CCPA, and FTC advertising regulations, which emphasize user consent and prohibit deceptive design patterns.
This needs to be fixed now. YouTube (and by extension, Google) is violating our digital rights by using coercive methods to override explicit user choices. If Brave does not take a hard stance here — reinforcing its mission to protect users from Big Tech overreach — then it risks losing the very community that made this browser successful. If this behavior continues unchecked, many of us will have no choice but to organize and escalate publicly, including launching a formal petition or campaign to demand legal and regulatory action against these exploitative ad practices. Users have drawn the line. We expect Brave to stand on our side of it — before the choice is made for us.
If this behavior continues unchecked, we — the users — will begin organizing a public campaign and petition to demand legal scrutiny and stronger protections. We will not silently accept platforms that bully users into monetization under threat of degraded access. Either Brave holds the line, or users will look elsewhere for a browser that does. Enough is enough.
