Firefox, one of the most popular web browser, is fast becoming the Internet Explorer for the publishers. The open source web browser is blocking Google adsense on mobile devices without the connect of users or the website owners.

Mozilla's Firefox automatically blocks Google Adsense from such sites and shows blank box instead. Most medium sized websites depend on display ads and blocking ads in mobile devices means major revenue loss for such websites.

Ironically, we see some hypocrisy here. Mozilla itself has a deal with Google where Firefox uses Google as the default search provider. Google in return pays to Mozilla, which is the biggest source of revenue for Mozilla. The organization also signed a deal with Microsoft to offer a 'special' version of Firefox which will use Bing as the default search engine. Yes, users can change the default search engine if they want.

Most publishers can't sign such deals with Google or set-up sales teams to hunt for ads. They rely on display ads. Firefox's default ad blocking is costing such sites heavy loss in revenues as mobile devices are becoming increasingly popular.

I wonder when Mozilla itself relies on revenue through search providers why is it stripping the ads from the sites which rely on such ads?

The problem is becoming bigger as more and more people are using tablets for accessing content. I think Mozilla needs to change this policy and allow web publishers to be able to monitize through display ads and pay for bills and offer users with quality content.

I don't understand the reason behind this blocking as most such site offer images and Firefox doesn't block images. So, 'data' should not be the concern at all.

Just the way Firefox offers hidden option to change the default search engine, why doesn't Firefox offer a 'hidden' option to disable the ads if the readers don't want to indirectly support the sites they love?

Remember LWN.net was almost shut-down due to lack of funds?

If you are a website owner, what do you say?

Firefox, don't kill businesses!