Mozilla, the maker of the popular Firefox browser, has rewritten its Terms of Use to address user concerns over data collection and ownership. The move comes after the company faced backlash from users who felt that the previous terms implied Mozilla was seeking rights to user data, which could be sold to advertisers or AI companies.

The controversy centered around language in the original terms that stated, "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." Critics argued that this language was overly broad and could be interpreted as giving Mozilla ownership of user data.

Mozilla has consistently maintained that this was not the case, and that the new terms did not represent a change in the way the company used data. According to Mozilla's product chief, Ajit Varma, the company's ability to use collected data is still limited by the rights laid out in Firefox's Privacy Notice. Despite this, Mozilla has taken steps to clarify its data collection and usage policies to alleviate user concerns.

The updated Terms of Use now state that Mozilla is only asking for user data to operate Firefox, and that this does not give the company ownership of that data. The new terms explicitly state, "You give Mozilla the rights necessary to operate Firefox. This includes processing your data as we describe in the Firefox Privacy Notice. It also includes a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license for the purpose of doing as you request with the content you input in Firefox. This does not give Mozilla any ownership in that content."

In addition to the rewritten Terms of Use, Mozilla has also removed the reference to the Acceptable Use Policy from its terms, as it was causing confusion. The company's online Privacy FAQ has also been updated to better explain legalese and provide clearer guidance on data collection and usage.

One notable change to the Privacy FAQ is the removal of blanket claims that Mozilla never sells user data. According to Mozilla, this is due to the evolving legal definition of "sale of data," which is now defined by laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Under the CCPA, "sale" is defined as the "selling, renting, releasing, disclosing, disseminating, making available, transferring, or otherwise communicating orally, in writing, or by electronic or other means, a consumer's personal information by [a] business to another business or a third party" in exchange for "monetary" or "other valuable consideration."

Despite this, Mozilla has reiterated its commitment to protecting user privacy. The company does collect and share some data with its partners, including data that helps to power its optional ads on the New Tab page in the browser and for sponsored suggestions in the search bar. However, Mozilla emphasizes that this data is stripped of personally identifying information and is only shared in aggregate. Users can continue to adjust their own data sharing settings in the browser to control how their data is used.

The move to rewrite the Terms of Use and clarify data collection and usage policies is a positive step for Mozilla, which has long been committed to protecting user privacy. As the tech industry continues to grapple with the implications of data collection and usage, Mozilla's efforts to provide transparency and clarity are a welcome development.

Ultimately, the updated Terms of Use and Privacy FAQ demonstrate Mozilla's commitment to listening to user concerns and adapting to the evolving landscape of data privacy. As users become increasingly savvy about their online data, companies like Mozilla must prioritize transparency and accountability to maintain trust and credibility.