Google search povider for en-GB locale incorrectly adds "gl" parameter forcing UK-based search results

[hackel]

The Google search provider in /usr/lib/firefox/distribution/searchplugins/locale/en-GB/google.xml adds the parameter
  <Param name="gl" value="uk"/>
According to Google: "The gl parameter value is a two-letter country code. For WebSearch results, the gl parameter boosts search results whose country of origin matches the parameter value." This is the wrong behaviour in this instance. The choice of the en-GB search plugin is based on the *language* spoken by the user. I want to speak proper English, so I choose en-GB, even though I am located in the U.S. I don't want to see UK-based search results, instead I want my search results to be based on my actual location, which either I have explicitly set or which Google is detecting automatically.

[Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson)]

This was added on the advice of somebody at Google, due to en-GB users being offered results that were more relevant to people living in the US. If this is no longer a problem then I'm prepared to drop the change, but I'm not going to sacrifice the experience of almost our entire en-GB audience for one en-GB user outside of the UK ;)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[hackel (hackel)]

We need someone located in the UK to remove the "gl" parameter and see if Google is properly detecting their location automatically. In my experience, it does a very good job of this, but if not then obviously I agree all the UK users shouldn't have to deal with US results. In my case, this parameter also affects Google Shopping results, showing me only products in UK stores in GBP. Thankfully it is easy to use a modified google.xml file.