Do they?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.adblockplu...
I don't use Android (nor any Google product besides search) but I'm pretty sure you can get ad blockers on Android.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.adblockplu...
I don't use Android (nor any Google product besides search) but I'm pretty sure you can get ad blockers on Android.
This would include an ad blocker that blocks ads in, say, a free game, or the built in Chrome browser.
The common workaround was to run connections through a VPN and your ad blocking happens there. I'm not sure if they started cracking down on that as well.
Having apps that modify other apps can certainly be desired behavior, but it's clear why there would be legitimate concerns about customer security in allowing apps that can do so.
1. Create a browser with ad blocking builtin or possible with addons (like Firefox).
2. Create a local proxy that blocks ads, and make the user configure it as the system proxy.
3. Require root privileges and do whatever you want (2, or maybe change /etc/hosts, like AdAway does). Yes, there are tons of apps in the Play Store that only work with root. Google never cared much about them.
On iOS I use Focus and Safari and that has been pretty good for me. Obviously that's not something that would work on Android.
And you can still get them on Android, but not via the Play Store. You have to go through third-party stores such as F-Droid, Aptoide or Amazon (or just directly download the installer-file off of a webpage).
http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/03/13/breaking-google-has-...