Firefox Makes A Major Change To Its Search Engine Lineup: Here's Why

screenrant.com:

Mozilla has removed multiple Russian search engines from Firefox, following reports that they're promoting state-sponsored propaganda over independent media. The attack on Ukraine has resulted in substantial economic sanctions on Russia by the United States, European Union and their allies. It has also made tech companies like Google, Meta, Twitter, Apple and others reconsider their business plans in Russia.

Many social media companies are already limiting or restricting Russian state media and other Russian government agencies from spreading propaganda or monetizing their content. For example, platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have taken decisive steps to stop fake news and misinformation on their respective platforms and have been praised for their proactive stance during the conflict.

Related: Elon Musk Shares Tips On Safely Using Starlink Satellites In Ukraine

Now, Firefox has removed multiple Russian search engine providers for allegedly favoring state-sponsored propaganda over independent content about the war in Ukraine. Mozilla announced its decision through the release notes for Firefox 98.0.1, which noted that «Yandex and Mail.ru have been removed as optional search providers» in the latest version of the browser. While the release notes did not provide any official reason for the decision, a Mozilla spokesperson later confirmed to Bleeping Computer that Russian propaganda was the reason behind the change. According to an official statement, the decision to remove the search options was taken due to «credible reports of search results displaying a prevalence of state-sponsored content, which is contrary to the principles of Mozilla.»

Alongside Yandex and Mail.ru, the Russian social network