Mozilla: Microsoft’s Copilot push is just more user abuse from Redmond

Mozilla fires back

Firefox-maker Mozilla has accused Microsoft of bulldozing AI into Windows in ways that ignore user choice. Linda Griffin, Mozilla’s VP of global policy, said Microsoft “installed [Copilot] for users without consent,” and argued the recent scaling back of some Copilot entry points is proof the company prioritized business goals over user control. It has been reported that Microsoft announced it would reduce Copilot entry points in apps such as Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets and Notepad after internal reviews — a move Mozilla calls “too little, too late.”

Patterns, not accidents

Mozilla’s critique ties the Copilot rollout to a familiar playbook: default settings, auto-installs and hardware hooks that nudge behavior. It has been reported that examples include Copilot auto-launching Edge when links are clicked from Outlook, embedding Edge inside Copilot to sidestep default browser choices, and force‑installing the Copilot app on machines — claims Mozilla says show a larger erosion of user choice. Griffin warned this isn’t just a Windows problem; it’s a trend: "Tried and tested tactics are degrading user choice and experiences on the web and now translating to AI."

Where, then, should the line be drawn? Mozilla didn’t offer a full industry blueprint, but pointed to its own response: Firefox 148 includes a one‑click AI kill switch so users can disable built‑in AI features. That’s a simple promise of control — and a clear contrast to the friction Mozilla says Microsoft created. Who gets to decide how AI touches your day-to-day computing? For Mozilla, the answer is simple: not Big Tech. Not the vendor. You.

Sources: The Register