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To disable it in about:config

browser.search.serpEventTelemetry.enabled  =  false	
browser.search.serpEventTelemetryCategorization.enabled  =  false
  • Vincent
    2·
    6 months ago

    there’s no user behaviour tracking

    I mean, that depends on how you define user behaviour. It tracks which packages are frequently installed, for example, or how often people install Ubuntu in the first place. All of which I think is pretty legit, in my opinion, since that only involves aggregate user statistics that help prioritise work and detect common problems - but that’s essentially what Firefox is doing too.

    Debian is a great example of relatively commonly used free software that doesn’t really collect data btw.

    • kbal@fedia.io
      1·
      6 months ago

      Canonical apparently turned on enabled-by-default telemetry for new installs in 2018 which records basic system hardware stats and such. It’s not that much compared to what Firefox sends, but adding it still did damage to their reputation.

      Another thing Ubuntu has in common with Firefox is a continuing long-term decline in market share. As they do things like adding telemetry, flirting with the idea of putting advertising in the package manager, insisting that everyone use snap, et cetera, users have started to go elsewhere. As I did.

      In the case of Ubuntu though, the company’s main business is in serving their corporate customers. If it’s little-used by the rest of us the company might still do well, as I hope they continue to do. Firefox does not share that advantage.