Mozilla restores Firefox add-ons banned in Russia
www.theregister.com
Browser maker decided not to follow Putin's orders. Well done

Mozilla has reinstated certain add-ons for Firefox that earlier this week had been banned in Russia by the Kremlin.

The browser extensions, which are hosted on the Mozilla store, were made unavailable in the Land of Putin on or around June 8 after a request by the Russian government and its internet censorship agency, Roskomnadzor.

Among those extensions were three pieces of code that were explicitly designed to circumvent state censorship – including a VPN and Censor Tracker, a multi-purpose add-on that allowed users to see what websites shared user data, and a tool to access Tor websites.

The day the ban went into effect, Roskomsvoboda – the developer of Censor Tracker – took to the official Mozilla forums and asked why his extension was suddenly banned in Russia with no warning.

“We recently noticed that our add-on is now unavailable in Russia, despite being developed specifically to circumvent censorship in Russia,” dev zombbo complained. “We did not violate Mozilla’s rules in any way, so this decision seems strange and unfair, to be honest.”

Another developer for a banned add-on chimed in that they weren’t informed either.

The internet org’s statement at the time mentioned the ban was merely temporary. It turns out wasn’t mere PR fluff, as Mozilla tells The Register that the ban has now been lifted.

“In alignment with our commitment to an open and accessible internet, Mozilla will reinstate previously restricted listings in Russia,” the group declared. "Our initial decision to temporarily restrict these listings was made while we considered the regulatory environment in Russia and the potential risk to our community and staff.

“We remain committed to supporting our users in Russia and worldwide and will continue to advocate for an open and accessible internet for all.”

Lifting the ban wasn’t completely necessary for users to regain access to the add-ons – two of them were completely open source, and one of the VPN extensions could be downloaded from the developer’s website.

  • letsgo@lemm.eeEnglish
    494·
    6 months ago

    Heh, I wonder how the ml tankies are spinning this one and what browser they’re going to use instead of Nazifox or whatever stupid name they’re using for it now.

    • Illecors@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      211·
      6 months ago

      If not for an occasional comment like yours - I would never remember I’ve defederated them. Thanks!

      • vxx@lemmy.worldEnglish
        101·
        6 months ago

        Tankies are pro authoritarian. I believe their name comes from celebrating China sending tanks to tianmen square.

        They pretend to be lefties though.

        That’s why they would shit on Firefox, because they’re Pro Putin.

        • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          4·
          6 months ago

          Minor correction, although it changes nothing about your point:

          tankie actually refers to people who defended the crushing of Hungarian and Czechoslovakian revolts by Soviet military personnel, who went as far as sending tanks in to quell civil unrest.

          The term was originally coined in the UK and was an insult to British Communist Party followers who would slavishly follow the Kremlin line.

          Of course, the term has now evolved to mean someone from the west who seems to dislike the west and praises Russia and China, despite them also being Capitalist countries now, and generally being more into imperialism.

          • oatscoopEnglish
            2·
            6 months ago

            Before any tankies claim the word is a blanket slur against communists: “tankie” was coined by British communists that were disgusted by the attitudes of some of their so-called “fellows”.

        • uis@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          6 months ago

          I believe their name comes from celebrating China sending tanks to tianmen square.

          AFAIK that name was created before tianmen.

          because they’re Pro Putin.

          Wouldn’t that make them just autocracy fans, not tankies?

          • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
            5·
            6 months ago

            AFAIK that name was created before tianmen.

            Correct. It actually originates from westerners who defended the Soviet Union sending tanks into Hungary and Czechoslovakia when citizens were protesting.

            Wouldn’t that make them just autocracy fans, not tankies?

            They’re kinda the same thing. A tankie is a fan of autocracy, but only when Russia or China does it. It’s not a worldview that makes sense.

            • uis@lemm.eeEnglish
              1·
              6 months ago

              I mean Putin has his mafia of oligarchs, while China looks like capitalism with beastly grin. And while CCP fans technically can be called tankies, Putin fans cannot. Putin fans are right-wingers.

                • uis@lemm.eeEnglish
                  2·
                  6 months ago

                  Why? Russia is not Soviet Union, Putin is not communist, and Unuted Russia members are oligarchs.

                  • TopRamenBinLaden@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
                    2·
                    6 months ago

                    I completely agree. I don’t understand why there are some self-described ML types that support modern Russia. It really makes no sense, as Russia’s economics and government has nothing to do with communism/socialism, or Marx, anymore.

                    I wonder how many Russian bots and agents have infiltrated those communities to spread that propaganda. FWIW, I am a member of a Socialist org, and there is nothing but hate for the Russian government amongst my comrades.

              • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
                1·
                6 months ago

                They can absolutely be called tankies, the word has evolved, just like how fascists aren’t limited to Mussolini’s National Fascist Party, but instead applies to any extremely authoritarian right winger.

                To a tankie, it doesn’t matter whether Russia or China are left or right wing anymore, all they care about now is being anti-western. The US, UK, etc could turn socialist tomorrow and tankies would still hate them and defend Russia and China.

                Anything the west does is bad and imperialistic, and when you bring up the dodgy shit that Russia and China do, all you’ll get back is whataboutism.