- Mozilla has reinstated previously banned Firefox add-ons in Russia that were designed to circumvent state censorship, such as a VPN and a tool to access Tor websites.
- The ban was initially imposed at the request of Russia’s internet censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, but Mozilla lifted it to support an open and accessible internet.
- Mozilla’s decision reflects its commitment to users in Russia and globally, despite the potential risks associated with the regulatory environment in Russia.
They did that a few times before without any warning, which is why I’m inclined to think it’s Mozilla using the situation for PR. I mean, why not, if the Russian government presents them with an opportunity.
In that case why block the add-ons in the first place? There is a risk that the “Mozilla is blocking privacy friendly add-ons on the behest of an authoritarian regime!” news will become more widely known than any correction. If it had been a planned PR move then any person involved in it should never work in marketing again.