2017638 - The Voice over is stuck in a loop going backwards inside the Assistant response when a link is provided

Status: ASSIGNED

(Core :: Disability Access APIs, defect)

Description

[Rares Doghi, Desktop QA]

Attachment: LoopWithLink.mp4

Found in

• Nightly 149.0a1 (2026-02-18)

Affected versions

• Nightly 149.0a1 (2026-02-18)

Affected platforms

• macOS

Preconditions
Enable Voice Over.

Steps to reproduce

1. Reach the Smart Window.
2. Ask the Assistant to summarize a page from mozilla.
3. Use the VO commands to reach the first link from the Assistants response.
4. Use VO + Left arrow in order to go back to the Top of the response.

Expected result

• The Voice over should move to the top without issues.

Actual result

• Users can only go forward with the VO + Right arrow or UP arrow, if they use VO + left arrow in order to go back they will be stuck in a loop.

Regression range
N/A

Comment 1

[BugBot [:suhaib / :marco/ :calixte]]

The severity field is not set for this bug.
:Mardak, could you have a look please?

For more information, please visit BugBot documentation.

Comment 2

[:jlewis]

Attachment: Bug 2017638 - The Voice over is stuck in a loop going backwards inside the Assistant response when a link is provided

Comment 3

[Morgan Reschenberg [:morgan]]

Attachment: VO_testing_with_patch.mov

Comment 4

[Morgan Reschenberg [:morgan]]

Hi folks, I just tested with the patch above and am still able to reproduce the issue.
I can also reproduce it in web content with the following (copied from browser toolbox, apologies for the weird HTML comments):

data:text/html,<article>%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20 <!--?lit$680726158$--><div class="message-assistant"><p>You're right! I apologize for the formatting error. Here are some non-profits similar to Mozilla that focus on internet health and advocacy, with their homepages linked inline as requested:</p><ul><li><p>The <strong>Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)</strong> is a leading nonprofit defending civil liberties in the digital world, focusing on free speech, privacy, and innovation. You can visit them at <a href="https://www.eff.org/">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a>.</p></li><li><p>The <strong>Internet Society (ISOC)</strong> works globally to ensure the internet remains a global, open, and accessible resource for everyone, focusing on policy, technology, and education. Their homepage is <a href="https://www.internetsociety.org/">Internet Society</a>.</p></li><li><p><strong>Access Now</strong> defends and extends the digital rights of users at risk around the world, addressing issues like internet shutdowns, surveillance, and content moderation. You can find them at <a href="https://www.accessnow.org/">Access Now</a>.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Tor Project</strong> develops and promotes free and open-source software and open practices to enable anonymous communication and resist surveillance. Their website is <a href="https://www.torproject.org/">The Tor Project</a>.</p></li></ul><p>These organizations, much like Mozilla, are dedicated to principles of openness, privacy, and user empowerment on the internet.</p></div>%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20 <!--?lit$680726158$--><!--?lit$680726158$--><!--?-->%20%20%20%20%20%20 </article>

Comment 5

[Morgan Reschenberg [:morgan]]

Because this reproduces in web content, I think we should migrate this issue to Disability Access APIs and try to fix it in the a11y engine. Please let me know if this sounds like the incorrect approach.