Mozilla Integrates Built-in Ad Blocker into Firefox (read more here) on iOS
Mozilla has introduced a native ad blocker for Firefox on iOS, leveraging Apple's WebKit API. This feature, built on the EasyList filter, is initially switched off in settings.
Apple’s WebKit Content Blocker Technology:
Firefox adheres to Apple's terms, utilizing their content blocking mechanism with the community-driven EasyList filter. However, it cannot block ads served by websites themselves, search engine ads, or Mozilla's sponsored shortcuts.
A Late Entry into the Market:
While Firefox is late to the game, other browsers like Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi have already offered built-in ad blocking on iOS. Desktop users have enjoyed ad blocker extensions for much longer.
The Engine Underneath:
The delay stems from the underlying WebKit engine used in all iOS browsers. Mozilla faces a unique challenge as they cannot modify Apple's engine but must work within its interface.
European Regulation and Its Impact:
The Digital Markets Act forced Apple to open BrowserEngineKit in March 2024, allowing competitors to use their engine. However, despite two years, no rival browser has shipped a WebKit-based engine on iOS within the EU.
Mozilla's Position:
In 2024, Mozilla attributed its decision not to develop a separate engine to Apple's burden, stating they would need to maintain two browsers.
The Current Scenario:
Microsoft has demonstrated that a WebKit-based prototype can be faster than the current implementation by 28.6%. Open Web Advocacy urges the European Commission to intervene, arguing that Apple should fulfill its obligations under the Digital Markets Act.
A Quiet Demonstration:
Despite limited capabilities, Mozilla's ad blocker demonstrates their ability to build an effective blocker using Apple's API, a year after Chrome disabled popular extensions like uBlock Origin.