YouTube's widespread use of ads, many of which are unavoidable, has raised concerns among some users. While some accept ads as a necessary part of the free video streaming experience, privacy advocate Alexander Hanff has taken issue with YouTube and its parent company, Google, over their ad practices. Hanff has filed a civil complaint with the Irish Data Protection Commission, alleging that YouTube's use of JavaScript code to detect and disable ad blockers violates data protection regulations.

Additionally, Hanff has filed a similar complaint against Meta, the company behind Instagram and Facebook, claiming that Meta's collection of personal data without explicit consent is illegal. Meta is accused of using surveillance technology to track user behavior and tailoring ads based on this information, a practice that Hanff believes violates Irish law.

These complaints come amid a growing focus on data privacy and security in the EU, which has implemented stricter regulations for Big Tech companies. In response, Google has expanded its Ads Transparency Center to provide more details on how advertisers target consumers and how ads are displayed. 

The company has also established a separate Transparency Center to showcase its safety policy development and enforcement processes. Google has committed to continued collaboration with the European Commission to ensure compliance with regulations.

Hanff's complaints could be the first of many against Google, Meta, and other tech giants, as legislators and the public alike express increasing concerns over market competition and data privacy. 

If additional regulations are implemented, these companies will have to adapt their practices accordingly. The potential impact on their profits remains to be seen, but compliance could ultimately prove less costly than facing financial penalties.