Has Mozilla walked back on absolute privacy claims in new Firefox terms? Here's what's going on

Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser, has long been seen as a defender of user privacy. However, its latest terms of use have sparked worry among fans and privacy advocates. The updated terms include a new clause that seems to step away from the absolute privacy promises Mozilla once made. This change has left many wondering what it means for their data and trust in the browser.

The new terms feature a specific line that’s causing the stir: “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.” In plain terms, this gives Mozilla permission to use data you enter or upload while using the browser. It’s a weird and loose-ended statement that’s got people talking.

Posts about this change have been gaining a lot of traction on X, with some getting thousands of likes and hundreds of comments.

People on Reddit aren’t staying silent, either. For years, Mozilla built its reputation on protecting users from the data-hungry practices of tech giants like Google. Firefox users chose it because it promised a safer, more private way to browse. Now, this clause feels like a shift, as some eagle-eyed users spotted that Mozilla removed the following:

“Does Firefox sell your personal data?”

“Nope. Never have, never will. And we protect you from many of the advertisers who do. Firefox products are designed to protect your privacy. That’s a promise. “

Some in the community are asking if Mozilla is starting to play the same game as its competitors. Does this mean they’re selling user data? The short answer is no, but it’s not that simple.

Mozilla has responded to the backlash by updating its privacy FAQ. They say, “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.” They admit the legal definition of “selling data” is tricky, so they’ve dialed back on bold privacy claims. Instead, they share data with partners to keep Firefox running as a business. They claim this data is either anonymized, shared in bulk, or protected by tech like OHTTP. That’s a system where a relay server hides your IP address and metadata before passing along requests, adding a privacy boost.

Still, the change comes at an interesting time. Mozilla recently saw its longtime CEO, Mitchell Baker, step down. The company is now pushing ideas like “privacy-respecting advertising.” Some see the new terms as part of this pivot, a way to make money while still trying to stay true to their roots. But not everyone’s convinced.

Other browsers have similar terms. Google Chrome, for instance, gives itself wide rights to use your content for ads and improvements. Microsoft Edge has a license clause too, though it says it doesn’t own your data. Meanwhile, browsers like Safari and Brave skip this kind of language entirely. Mozilla says the clause is needed for basic Firefox functions, like processing what you type. They’ve added, “It does NOT give us ownership of your data or a right to use it for anything other than what is described in the Privacy Notice.”

New Firefox users will see these terms next month, while current users will get them later this year, according to a contributor on Mozilla’s Github. Opt-out options in the settings let you limit what’s shared. For now, Mozilla insists it’s still about transparency, not a privacy rollback. But as tech companies wrestle with profit and trust, Firefox users might wonder if their favorite browser can keep its soul intact.