German Version of Firefox in Hot Water

BERLIN – In what appears to be the first negative response from users of the newly launched Firefox 1.0 browser, German Firefox fans are in an uproar over an eBay search plug-in.

After promising to offer a browser free of adware and spyware – a feature that made Firefox instantly favored by a large sector of the online community – the German version of the popular open-source browser is being heavily criticized for using an affiliated site as the middleman for users clicking through to eBay Germany.

Rather than providing a direct link to eBay, users were redirected to adfarm.mediaplex.com or webtip.ch, which is owned by a Swiss company called Metaspinner Media GMBH, a data source mining engine that is partners with eBay.

In response to the uproar, which has called into question Firefox's philosophical foundation, Mozilla Foundation, the Mountain View, Calif.-based parent company of Firefox, issued a statement claiming it was only trying to gather statistical information on surfers but had not realized the "privacy implications."

A Mozilla spokesperson was quick to point out that the company had incorporated the search plug-in as a useful tool for users and that no money changed hands between Mozilla and eBay.

Taking immediate action, Mozilla will make new downloads of the open-source browser available by the end of the week; the search function on MozillaEurope.org is updated in such a way that it refers directly to eBay.de; and Mozilla has agreed to not change any search engine on its servers without making a previous announcement. Mozilla also provided a link with a patch.

"We regret this error and thank the user community for finding the problem and the patience," Mozilla stated.

In the meantime, Firefox continues to take the world by storm and currently maintains a total global usage share of 7.35 percent, according to OneStat.com, although Microsoft's Internet Explorer still dominates 88.9 percent of browser market share.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Kansas Law Firm Deploys Religion, Bunk Science While Recruiting Plaintiffs Under AV Law

Kansas-based personal injury law firm Mann Wyatt Tanksley is promoting debunked scientific theories and leveraging religious affiliation against the industry while it seeks potential plaintiffs for lawsuits against adult companies under the state’s age verification law.

UK Tech Secretary Lists Age Verification Among OSA Priorities

Peter Kyle, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, on Wednesday made public a draft version of his priorities for implementing the Online Safety Act (OSA), including age verification.

10th Circuit Rejects Final FSC Appeal in Utah AV Case

The United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit on Monday rejected a motion by Free Speech Coalition (FSC) requesting that the full court rehear its appeal in Free Speech Coalition v. Anderson, the industry trade association’s challenge to Utah’s age verification law.

Trump Nominates Project 2025 Contributor, Section 230 Foe to Chair FCC

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated, as his pick to head the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr — an author of Project 2025 who has called for gutting Section 230 protections.

Texas AG Briefs US Supreme Court on AV Argument

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday submitted his brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the state's age verification law, HB 1181, which is being challenged by a group led by Free Speech Coalition (FSC).

FSC: Kansas Attorneys Seeking Plaintiffs to Sue Adult Companies Over Age Verification

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement warning that a personal injury law firm in Kansas is soliciting plaintiffs to sue adult companies under the state's age verification law.

Ukrainian Parliament Registers Bill to Decriminalize Porn

Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, registered a bill today to decriminalize the creation and distribution of pornography.

MojoHost Reaffirms Commitment to Adult Industry Amid Project 2025 Implications

In the wake of Tuesday’s election and concerns about Project 2025’s potential ramifications, MojoHost President Brad Mitchell has released a statement affirming its commitment to the adult industry.

Adult Industry Reacts to Trump Victory

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the office he lost four years ago.

Project 2025 Leader Claims Big Tech Companies 'Deliberately Fuel Pornography Addiction' Among Men

Heritage Foundation president and Project 2025 leader Kevin Roberts published on Wednesday the text of a speech in which he persists with his past claim that “predatory Big Tech corporations” are “deliberately fueling pornography addiction” among young men.

Show More