Firefox Terms Of Use Controversy

[Zema Bus]

Mozilla has responded to user backlash over the Firefox web browser’s new Terms of Use, which critics have called out for using overly broad language that appears to give the browser maker the rights to whatever data you input or upload. The company says the new terms aren’t a change in how Mozilla uses data, but are rather meant to formalize its relationship with the user by clearly stating what users are agreeing to when they use Firefox.

On Wednesday, the browser maker introduced a new Terms of Use and updated Privacy Notice for Firefox, saying it wanted to offer users more transparency over their rights and permissions in the agreements, as well as provide a more detailed explanation of its data practices.

“We tried to make these easy to read and understand — there shouldn’t be any surprises in how we operate or how our product works,” the company’s blog post stated.

However, there was some confusion about this — so much confusion, in fact, that the company has had to update its blog post to state that its terms do not give Mozilla ownership of user data or a right to use it beyond what’s stated in the Privacy Notice.

Users who read through the new terms were upset by the changes, pointing to the vague and seemingly all-encompassing language Mozilla used that said (emphasis ours): “When you upload or input information through Firefox, you hereby grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use that information to help you navigate, experience, and interact with online content as you indicate with your use of Firefox.”

As a number of critics pointed out, this statement seems fairly broad.

Brendan Eich, co-founder and CEO of a rival browser maker Brave Software, responded to Mozilla’s updated terms by writing, “W T F” in a post on X. He also suggested that Mozilla’s wording was related to a business pivot to allow Firefox to monetize by providing data for AI and other uses.

TechCrunch asked Mozilla to clarify if the terms now indicate user data was being provided to AI companies or advertisers. The company told us that its Privacy Notice still applies when using its AI features, and content data is not sent to Mozilla or elsewhere. Plus, data shared with advertisers is de-identified, it said.

“These changes are not driven by a desire by Mozilla to use people’s data for AI or sell it to advertisers,” Brandon Borrman, Mozilla’s VP of Communications, said in an email to TechCrunch. “As it says in the Terms of Use, we ask for permission from the user to use their data to operate Firefox ‘as you indicate with your use of Firefox.’ This means that our ability to use data is still limited by what we disclose in the Privacy Notice.”

The Privacy Notice says that Firefox may collect technical and interaction data about how AI chatbots are used.

The spokesperson told TechCrunch that if users choose to opt in to use third-party AI chatbots with Firefox, the third party will process their data in accordance with their own policies. Other AI features in Firefox operate locally on users’ devices, the spokesperson said, and don’t send “content data to Mozilla or elsewhere.”

From techcrunch.com.

[Grogan]

So this is essentially, Butthurt Brendan sowing FUD again.

Mozilla isn't going to claim the rights to your data. Who the fuck does this guy think they are, Google?