Google has updated its affiliate ads policy for Chrome extensions after creators accused PayPal’s popular Honey browser extension of being a “scam.”
Honey was accused of taking affiliate revenue from the same influencers it paid for promotion by using its Chrome extension to swap in its own affiliate link before you checked out. According to the updated Google policy posted today, this isn’t allowed in most cases:
Affiliate links, codes, or cookies must only be included when the extension provides a direct and transparent user benefit related to the extension’s core functionality. It is not permitted to inject affiliate links without related user action and without providing a tangible benefit to users.
Some common violations include:
Inserting affiliate links when no discount, cashback, or donation is provided.
An extension that continuously injects affiliate links in the background without related user action.
Google and PayPal didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
Last month, YouTuber MegaLag, whose video highlighting Honey’s practices has more than 17 million views, said that a “Part 2” to his video was “meant to come out weeks ago” and that “there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, most of which I cannot disclose right now.”
In January, YouTuber Legal Eagle sued PayPal over Honey’s alleged affiliate practices.