Mozilla recently made a decision to reinstate certain add-ons for Firefox that were previously banned in Russia. These browser extensions, which can be found on the Mozilla store, were initially made unavailable in Russia around June 8 following a request from the Russian government and Roskomnadzor, the country’s internet censorship agency.
Among the banned extensions were three specific pieces of code that were created to bypass state censorship. These included a VPN, Censor Tracker, which allowed users to monitor websites sharing user data, and a tool for accessing Tor websites. The developers of these extensions were surprised by the sudden ban and took to the official Mozilla forums to express their concerns.
Despite the initial ban being described as temporary, Mozilla has now confirmed that the restrictions have been lifted. In a statement, Mozilla emphasized its commitment to an open and accessible internet, stating that the decision to temporarily restrict the listings was made while considering the regulatory environment in Russia and the potential risks to the community and staff.
It’s worth noting that the lifting of the ban was not essential for users to regain access to the add-ons, as two of them were open source and one of the VPN extensions could still be downloaded from the developer’s website.
In related news, Mozilla has been encouraging extension developers to prepare for the transition to mobile platforms, indicating a shift towards mobile accessibility. Meanwhile, Google is moving forward with plans to overhaul Chrome’s ad-blocker extension, and Microsoft Defender has ceased flagging the Tor Browser as malware.
Mozilla’s decision to reinstate the banned Firefox add-ons in Russia reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting users in Russia and globally. The organization continues to advocate for an open and accessible internet for all, emphasizing the importance of internet freedom and user privacy.
As technology and internet regulations evolve, it is crucial for organizations like Mozilla to navigate complex regulatory environments while upholding their values of openness and accessibility. The reinstatement of these add-ons in Russia serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by developers and users in the digital landscape.