Mozilla has rewritten its Terms of Use for the Firefox browser following significant user backlash regarding the previous language, which critics found overly broad and concerning. The original terms suggested that Mozilla sought rights to data users input into the browser, leading to fears that this data could be sold to advertisers or AI companies.
Mozilla clarifies Firefox terms of use amid user concerns
Mozilla clarified that the new terms do not indicate a change in how user data is utilized. The company emphasized that its data usage aligns with the rights detailed in Firefox’s Privacy Notice. The contentious language included the stipulation that users granted Mozilla a “nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license” to use uploaded information, which was perceived as a potential threat to user privacy.
Ajit Varma, Mozilla’s product chief, stated that the revised Terms of Use aim to “more clearly reflect the limited scope” of how the company engages with user data. The updated terms specify that users grant Mozilla rights necessary to operate Firefox, which includes data processing as outlined in the Privacy Notice, without transferring ownership of that data to the company.
Further changes involve removing references to the Acceptable Use Policy to eliminate confusion. Mozilla updated its Privacy FAQ to clarify legal ambiguities around terms like “sells,” noting that the legal definition of data sale is “broad and evolving.” Mozilla cited the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as a significant factor in altering language, as it defines “sale” broadly, encompassing several forms of information sharing.
While Mozilla does collect and share some data with partners to support features like optional ads on the New Tab page and sponsored suggestions in the search bar, the company insists that all shared data is aggregated and stripped of personally identifiable information. Users retain the ability to adjust their data-sharing settings within the Firefox browser.
In a blog post, Mozilla remarked, “TL;DR Mozilla doesn’t sell data about you (in the way that most people think about ‘selling data’), and we don’t buy data about you.” The company continues to support data privacy laws and emphasizes the importance of user control over personal data.
Featured image credit: Mozilla
