Mozilla has updated its Firefox terms of use to address concerns from users who felt that the language implied the company was claiming ownership of their data. The controversy arose from a specific clause in the terms, which stated that users granted Mozilla a "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" to use their data to help them navigate and interact with online content.

The language in question had sparked concerns among users, who felt that it gave Mozilla overly broad ownership over their data. In response, Mozilla has added an update to its blog post, clarifying that the license is necessary to enable basic functionality in Firefox and does not grant the company ownership of user data.

According to Mozilla, the license is required to allow the company to use information typed into Firefox, such as search queries or login credentials. The company emphasized that the license is limited to the purposes outlined in its Privacy Notice, which explains how Firefox uses user data to provide its core functionality and features.

In an effort to further clarify the intent behind the language, Mozilla shared its reasoning with TechCrunch. The company explained that the term "nonexclusive" was used to indicate that users should be able to do other things with their data, while "royalty-free" was used because Firefox is a free browser and neither Mozilla nor the user should owe each other money in exchange for handling the data. The "worldwide" term was used because Firefox is available globally and provides access to the global internet.

Mozilla spokesperson Kenya Friend-Daniel also reassured users that the changes were not driven by a desire to use people's data for AI or sell it to advertisers. Instead, the company's ability to use data is limited by what is disclosed in the Privacy Notice, and users are asked for permission to use their data to operate Firefox.

The update comes as Mozilla continues to prioritize user privacy in its services. In its original blog post, the company stated that some optional Firefox features or services may require additional data collection to function, but emphasized that user privacy remains a top priority.

The clarification is a welcome move for users who value their online privacy and are increasingly wary of companies collecting and using their data without their knowledge or consent. As the debate around data ownership and privacy continues to evolve, Mozilla's efforts to provide transparency and reassurance to its users are a step in the right direction.

With the updated terms in place, Mozilla can continue to focus on providing a secure and private browsing experience for its users, while also addressing the growing concerns around data ownership and privacy in the tech industry.