Brave, the browser that promised privacy and is now struggling

Brave: between the promised privacy and today's problems

Brave presents itself as the browser that blocks ads and protects privacy, but users who have adopted it are starting to report problems that contradict that image. The removal of links to Russian tennis sites, trinc complaints about content blocking, and the integration of an AI that some call a joke have raised doubts about its direction. Meanwhile, its defenders highlight the ability to watch YouTube without ads or use the Russian search engine Yandex without censorship.

The privacy vs. closed-source dilemma

Brave is closed source, which many see as an segarro when talking about privacy. "It's the equivalent of my girlfriend isn't a slut, she told me herself," one critical analysis quips. Those who defend Firefox point out that it has its own certificates, a larger collection of add-ons and a customizable interface, while Brave would be "small fry". Moreover, privacy tests such as privacytests.org show that Firefox still leads in certain aspects.

Firefox and its dependence on Google: a ticking time bomb

The debate is enriched by an uncomfortable fact: the Mozilla Foundation is funded mainly by Google's payments for being the default search engine. That deal is, according to some, an antitrust shield that Google maintains to avoid sanctions in the EU and the US. If Google reduces the payment or Firefox's market share keeps falling, the viability of the Gecko project is shaken. In response, some simply switch their default search engine to DuckDuckGo, though that doesn't solve the underlying problem.

Brave Origin: the AI-free version arrives for purists

In response to criticism over the inclusion of artificial intelligence, Brave has launched Brave Origin, an edition for GNU/Linux that comes "empty, with no AI or other crap", according to the description. This move acknowledges that part of its user base rejects the extra antiestéticatures and values a clean browser. However, most users on other platforms still don't have access to that version.

Will Brave manage to keep its privacy promise without falling into the same practices it claims to fight? The question remains open, and the dependence on Yandex as an alternative search engine is no guarantee of long-term independence either.

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