uBlock Origin filter to block autoplay videos in TechCrunch
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TechCrunch readers can now block the site's autoplaying videos using a new uBlock Origin filter set shared by user cornfieldlabs, which targets the JW Player embeds that auto-play mid-article and the Connatix floating ad player. The filters block scripts from content.jwplatform.com and ssl.p.jwpcdn.com, plus third-party requests to connatix.com, while cosmetic rules hide the leftover player box (the .wp-block-techcrunch-jw-player-embed and .jw-player-inline-promo elements). The workaround applies to the full MV2 version of uBlock Origin on Firefox, not uBO Lite, and requires pasting the rules into the Dashboard's "My filters" section. The move highlights ongoing friction between publishers' video-ad monetization strategies and ad-blocking users, as autoplay players often continue running audio even when hidden. If TechCrunch switches video vendors, the cosmetic rules will likely still hide the player box, but users will need a new network rule to stop the audio.
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Named in this story
uBlock Origin, TechCrunch, JW Player, Connatix