Ask HN: Why doesn't Mozilla launch a search engine? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Why doesn't Mozilla launch a search engine?

7 pointsbehnamoh8 comments

Every time I install a browser (be it FF or Chrome), I install a set of extensions right off the bat. uBlock Origin is one of them. But I also install extensions that customize my experience on Google, and "detoxify" Google to some extent. For example, I use uBO to filter "People Also Search For" on search results, and I used to use another extension that would let me know when was the last time I visited links on the search page. I also use extensions so that Google doesn't show me results from Medium/Quora/Pinterest.

I think all of this and more could be part of a "sane" search engine that would give the power to the user. I don't use DDG because many of the extensions I mentioned above are not available for it, and also because I simply don't trust them.

Given Mozilla's mission and their success with reviving FF, I wonder if a search engine is on their to-do list in the future.

(building and) Running a search engine is a huge expense. Running a search marketing engine is a huge expense. If it turns out well, running both of those gives you a printing press for money, so maybe it's worthwhile. If it doesn't turn out well, it may not pay for itself and it may screw up the Google revenue deal. Existential risk that's hard to plan. I wouldn't do it if I were them.

Also, I could be wrong, but I don't think there's a lot of folks there with relevant experience, so that's hiring a big new team to bet the farm on. Not my cup of tea (but then, I'm risk averse)

I think that was kinda what the whole Cliqz brouhaha[0] was about?

Mozilla's marketing team, for the, oh, ca. 10 billionth time, decided it was high times to once again foist something on Firefox users that none them wanted, needed, or asked for. To the surprise of Mozilla Marketing (but no-one else) it did not go too well.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliqz#Integration_with_Firefox

As a very, very long time user of Firefox, I will say this: if Mozilla built a search engine with as good search results as Google, that would be the one good thing that has come out of all of their "new" programs. We sorely need a Google replacement more than a VPN.

They get money from google (that's why google is the default setting on FF), so they'd probably lose that funding if they tried.

Is google still the default?

Yes. They have been trying alternatives (on small batches of users) but it is suspected that is mostly a negotiation tactic.

I've noticed duckduckgo as the default lately. Thought I might have changed it by accident.

They are financed by Google.

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