In the Support section on the Mozilla site, Warning that some users will encounter With changing the default search system in the release of Firefox 98, scheduled for March 8. It is indicated that the change is touched by users from all countries, but which search engines will be deleted not reported (in the code list is not defined Search engine handlers are loaded in the form of add-ons depending on Countries, language and other parameters). Access to Discussion The upcoming change is still open only for Mozilla employees.
As the reason for the forced change in the default search engine, it is mentioned that the impossibility of continuing the delivery of handlers for some search engines due to the lack of official agreement (Formal Permission). It is noted that the search engines previously proposed in Firefox was the opportunity to sign an agreement on cooperation and those systems that did not fulfill the conditions will be deleted. If desired, the user will be able to return the search engine that interests his search engine, but it will take it Installation associated with it separately distributed search plugs or additions.
Cubs throughout, the change has a connection with agreements on the payment of deductions for the direction of search traffic that bring the lion’s share of Mozilla’s revenues. For example, in 2020, the share of Mozilla revenues from collaboration with search engines amounted to 89%. In the English-speaking Firefox assembly, Google is offered by default, in Russian-language and Turkish – Yandex, and in assemblies for China – Baidu. Movement with Google on the transmission of search traffic, which brings about $ 400 million a year, in 2020 was extended until August 2023. From Autumn 2021 until the end of January 2022, an experiment was operating, according to which 1% of Firefox users were transferred to the default search system Microsoft Bing.