On: Lots to See in Firefox 93

[asdff]

Hillarious that they said it was an opt in feature, then when I checked my settings all these boxes were checked already. Who opted in for me, mozilla?

[bun_at_work → asdff]

Seems like they don't actually say opt-in. In any case:

Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Address Bar -- Firefox Suggest -> Contextual Suggestions -> Include Occasional Sponsored Suggestions

For me it's selected, so I deselected it. Still a good browser.

Edit: They do say opt-in, but the opt-in was in version 92.

[spencerflem → bun_at_work]

if you click 'learn more' next to it, their description calls it opt in. Firefox is still way better than Chrome but this is definitely a scummy move

[bun_at_work → spencerflem]

It seems like it is opt-in. Just that the opt-in happens with the pop-up described in the link you mentioned [0]. I recall both seeing the pop-up and opt-ing in now that I see the pop-up.

[0] https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/navigate-web-faster-fir...

[asdff → bun_at_work]

I got no such popup, I checked my settings after one of these articles and it was already there.

[yborg → asdff]

Same.

[harry8 → bun_at_work]

v.93 I don't even see Firefox Suggest in those settings.

Linux distro removed it? Or Firefox know apple, windows people will just put up with anything but linux people probably won't?

edit: Don't see it on an v.93 on an old mac laptop either. checkboxes for browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, shortcuts, search engines only. I wanna yell fake news out of FF loyalty boosterism but I do actually believe you so I wonder what's going on?

[asdff → harry8]

I'm actually on V. 92.0.1 on Mac OS, in the US if that helps. Maybe they are AB testing this and gauging fallout. Here's a paste of what I have in my settings > privacy and security menu under address bar:

Address Bar — Firefox Suggest

Choose the type of suggestions that appear in the address bar:

Browsing history

Bookmarks

Open tabs

Shortcuts

Search engines

Contextual suggestions (this was checked when i became aware of these settings and went to look)

Learn more

Include occasional sponsored suggestions (this was also checked)

Helps fund Firefox development and optimization.

Change preferences for search engine suggestions

[eps → harry8]

It is limited to the US for now.

Presumably they are trying to gauge the density of the resulting shitstorm before going all in.

[jamie_ca → harry8]

I think it's windows only (at least for now).

[harry8 → jamie_ca]

Well anyone who agrees to what microsoft forces on you by running windows is hardly going to object to anything firefox does. Firefox isn't spyware, windows clearly is nowadays.

[asdff → bun_at_work]

I am running version 92.0.1 on Mac OS by the way, so it still wasn't opt in on that version either.

[noasaservice → asdff]

And the insult to injury was the "will take 30 days to remove data".

I never accepted it. You force-upgraded me and opted in without consent. And then hang a 30 day window of data retention... If that's true at all.

[Operyl → noasaservice]

Is that possibly because they’re including the backup age out period though?

[noasaservice → Operyl]

Who knows.

There was no informed consent. No opt-in. It was just turned on without my knowledge. I had to find out on Twitter infosec to watch out for this.