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Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

blog.mozilla.org

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Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#401

Post by spacechild1 »

kazinator wrote: post #134

> Mozilla can suspend or end anyone’s access to Firefox at any time for any reason, including if Mozilla decides not to offer Firefox anymore. On what planet is that free, open source? Can you imagine: "The Free Software Foundation (FSF) can suspend anyone's access to GNU Emacs at any time for any reason, including if the FSF decides not to offer GNU Emacs any more".

Here's the remaining paragraph:

> If we decide to suspend or end your access, we will try to notify you at the email address associated with your account or the next time you attempt to access your account

It seems like this is not about the browser itself, but rather about Firefox accounts. The wording is pretty ambiguous, though.

Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#402

Post by windward »

LeChuck wrote: post #352
rdtsc wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s about expectations. In very simple language: people expect Microsoft and Google to track the hell out of them. But Mozilla says they are your friend and respects privacy, but then their actions speak the opposite. A betrayal from a friend is harder to handle than a blow from an enemy.

Mozilla's goals are still much more aligned with my own than any other browser vendor. Not even close. It's not a betrayal, it's a difference of opinion between friends. Edit: If that. I personally think this Terms of Use thing is a storm in a teacup.

Are they? Their incentive is to maintain their revenue stream, almost all of which currently comes from Google. That source is now under threat so, to continue being able to pay the bills, they need to find another. And it's a big hole to fill.

Google's goals were once noble.

Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#403

Post by rvense »

Parae wrote: post #397
rvense wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I've been a Firefox user and Mozilla supporter for approaching two decades now, even used to donate monthly to the foundation. I'm furious over this. I installed LibreWolf on my personal machines last night and expect to uninstall Firefox after work today.

I'm a happy LibreWolf for years. The transition from FF to LibreWolf is seamless. And you won't be surprised anymore nor annoyed when Mozilla does moves like that.

I probably will, actually. It was good to have an ally with their stature and history.

Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#404

Post by kjrfghslkdjfl »

mherrmann wrote: post #313
jmward01 wrote: post #299

I am, unfortunately, looking at alternative browsers because of this. Firefox was the best fit. Big enough that they could reasonably keep up but not one of the corporate browsers that I have 0 trust in. It wasn't perfect but it was better than chrome for sure. Browsers are like cars now. It is becoming impossible to buy a new(er) car and have your privacy respected, but it is unreasonable to expect any normal life (…

Brave is fantastic.

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Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#405

Post by mnmalst »

_Algernon_ wrote: post #344

>UPDATE: We’ve seen a little confusion about the language regarding licenses, so we want to clear that up. We need a license to allow us to make some of the basic functionality of Firefox possible. Without it, we couldn’t use information typed into Firefox, for example. 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. From their blog post…

I have no idea what I am talking about but could it be related to future AI related features that process user data locally and/or on their servers? At least that would make some sense to me.

Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#406

Post by kjrfghslkdjfl »

pilaf wrote: post #232

This made me look into Firefox forks/alternatives: Librewolf [1] seems to be fairly active (last commit on Codeberg was last week) and up-to-date with the latest upstream releases (mirrors FF's versioning scheme and matches their latest). Has a nice focus on privacy and no-telemetry. Floorp [2] also looks active (last commit last week), also claims focus on privacy. Based off FF's extended support releases so it may…

[dead]

Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#407

Post by account42 »

ziddoap wrote: post #45
rightbyte wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is really unfortunate. My Firefox install lately added links to what could be considered not so nice sites for grandmas like amazon.com and hotels.com to the start screen. It is quite clear they see it as their program not mine program. I dunno for how long I will stick to using the least worst alternative. To go for custom builds would be giving up on Mozilla. edit: Toned down language

> scam sites like amazon.com Since when is Amazon a scam site ? I don't like em' either, but hyperbole doesn't help. For what it's worth, it can be removed in about 4 seconds.

It's hardly hyperbole at this point:

- Letting sellers replace listings with completely different products while keeping the ratings.

- Not providing any way to filter dodgy chinese sellers that spam search results with duplicates of the same cheap shit.

- Comingling inventory so that even if you take care to select a trustworthy seller you might get stuff from a dodgy one.

And no, being able to remove the scam ads is not good enough.

Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#408

Post by Juliate »

_Algernon_ wrote: post #344

>UPDATE: We’ve seen a little confusion about the language regarding licenses, so we want to clear that up. We need a license to allow us to make some of the basic functionality of Firefox possible. Without it, we couldn’t use information typed into Firefox, for example. 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. From their blog post…

Definitely.

There's a hidden motive, or utter incompetence in managing this side of the licensing and communication (either by beginners "better cover you ass" MBA or lawyers thinking, which could mean it's the result of some consulting firm operation).

Either way, the sudden change without proper communication is suspicious.

Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#409

Post by int_19h »

handoflixue wrote: post #361
foxylad wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look at what they are ACTUALLY doing: https://github.com/mozilla/bedrock/commit/d459addab846d8144b... The change removing "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." makes it pretty clear that the intention in the changes is NOT just covering their bums for using y…

Full context, from the link YOU provided: ""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." There is no reasonable way to read this as an attempt to…

Is there an actual genuine legal threat or something that prompted this change, or is it just some bored lawyer.

Re: Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox

#410

Post by sunshine-o »

userbinator wrote: post #151

The other WTF is here: Your use of Firefox must follow Mozilla’s Acceptable Use Policy, and you agree that you will not use Firefox to infringe anyone’s rights or violate any applicable laws or regulations. Acceptable Use Policy links to https://www.mozilla.org/about/legal/acceptable-use/ which says "You may not use any of Mozilla’s services to[...]Upload, download, transmit, display, or grant access to content that…

> Either their legal team made a mistake, in which case they should correct it and issue an apology ASAP

I don't think it is a mistake but more the translation of a vision and strategy that took hundreds of meetings to be laid down very precisely.

I have nothing to back what I am gonna say but I am wondering if their strategy might be to truly become the default browser of governments who are uncomfortable having Chrome or Edge as the default browser. Especially since now they get augmented by a lot of AI.

Firefox has it largest market share in Europe and Germany it seems and with the concerns with are hearing over there about Big tech I wouldn't be surprised at some point some govs try to make their workstations Firefox only.

Also some governments are trying hard to restrict access to porn, violence and social media for children but we know it is almost impossible to do it at the network level. So they might try at the browser level with the help of Mozilla and some "sanctioned Internet AI safety" inside the browser?

I really don't know but think about it, Mozilla is a dead man walking with it's 2% market share and huge cost of maintaining one of the most complex piece of software. They have to do something about it.

What just tipped me off is reading on Wikipedia [0]:

> On February 8, 2024, Mozilla announced that Baker would be stepping down as CEO to "focus on AI and internet safety"[2] as chair of the Mozilla Foundation.

- [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Baker

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