Mozilla, the maker of Firefox, has removed its long-standing assurance of not selling users' personal data, prompting concern among its user base. Previously, the FAQ stated that Mozilla never sold personal data, a promise that is no longer reinforced. The new language around data privacy reflects a legal stance that defines 'sale' broadly, making it challenging for Mozilla to maintain such guarantees. While they claim to provide transparency and use privacy-preserving technologies, users feel unsettled as discussions on platforms like GitHub and Reddit reveal dissatisfaction with these changes.
Until recently, a Firefox FAQ promised that the browser maker never has and never will sell its users' personal data. An archived version from January 30 says: Does Firefox sell your personal data?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.
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. Since we strive for transparency, and the LEGAL definition of 'sale of data' is extremely broad in some places, we've had to step back from making the definitive statements you know and love.
Users criticized Mozilla in discussions on GitHub and Reddit. One area of concern is over new terms of use that say, '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.'
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