Firefox is now the last known major browser that still supports uBlock Origin Ad blocker. Everyone including Microsoft Edge, Google and other Chromium browsers phase it out under Manifest V3. Firefox is also the only browser that check and ensure uBlock's code on every update to make sure the devs (or comprised repos) hasn't inserted spyware or malware into the extension code. The list of recommended and monitored or vetted FF extensions https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search/?promoted=recommended&type=extension
Imagine if they avoided LLM feature totally. They could have claim their glory. Oh well.
@nixCraft Heck no... their ML stuff is softball (local models, an LLM sidebar). I would say "I couldn't care less" about them, but TBH I think the ability to run models locally is exciting esp. because a lot of AI is not generative.
Its Mozilla's fealty to adtech tracking that made me leave for LibreWolf, Waterfox, and Fennec. To me, this is where they have crossed a line.
@eliasr Mozilla's rep thinks that adtech is foundational to doing business on the Internet:
While there is no denying behavioral advertising is the underlying business model of the web today, it does not mean that it cannot be reformed to minimize its societal harms.
So, keep the tracking but "reform" it. De-anonymization is a common practice in the industry, however, and Mozilla/Anonym haven't gotten any review or buy-in from the community for the underlying tech.
Anonym have made similar statements, and they will be operating a business unit within Mozilla. Mozilla's new CEO has also made a statement reinforcing the primacy of advertising.
AFAICT the new adtech is getting baked into Firefox as an opt-out feature. I would not be surprised if Mozilla prevents ad-blockers from automatically turning it off (making the misfeature an obscure gotcha that the user must remember to switch off each time they reinstall, switch machines, etc.)
https://www.theregister.com/on-prem/2024/06/18/mozilla-buys-anonym-betting-privacy-is-compatible-with-ads/1042316