Mozilla introduces TOS to Firefox: Difference between revisions
mozilla's original terms didn't prohibit data sales, they simply said they wouldn't do it. pedantic difference. :( also fixed some formatting errors. Tag: 2017 source edit |
updated sponsored ads section to be more clear and provided more details. |
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*'''Search Engine Partnerships (Google, Bing, Yandex, etc.)''': Mozilla's largest revenue source comes from deals with search engines like Google, which pay Mozilla to be Firefox's default search provider.<ref>https://assets.mozilla.net/annualreport/2022/mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf</ref><ref>[[:File:Mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf]]</ref> These deals involve sending search query data to search partners. Under the CCPA, if Mozilla transmitted search data in exchange for financial compensation, this could be classified as a ''"sale of data."'' '''This is a practice that Mozilla had already been openly taking part in.''' | *'''Search Engine Partnerships (Google, Bing, Yandex, etc.)''': Mozilla's largest revenue source comes from deals with search engines like Google, which pay Mozilla to be Firefox's default search provider.<ref>https://assets.mozilla.net/annualreport/2022/mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf</ref><ref>[[:File:Mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf]]</ref> These deals involve sending search query data to search partners. Under the CCPA, if Mozilla transmitted search data in exchange for financial compensation, this could be classified as a ''"sale of data."'' '''This is a practice that Mozilla had already been openly taking part in.''' | ||
*'''Sponsored | ==Mozilla's Sponsored Ads & Potential CCPA Implications== | ||
|title= | |||
|url= https:// | ===How Mozilla’s Sponsored Ads Work=== | ||
|website= Mozilla | Mozilla monetizes Firefox through advertising programs: | ||
|date= | *'''Pocket Sponsored Stories''': Mozilla owns Pocket, which provides content recommendations. Mozilla shares '''aggregated data''' with ad platforms (such as Adzerk) so advertisers can track engagement.<ref name="pocket-sponsored">{{cite web | ||
|access-date= | |title= Pocket Sponsored Stories on New Tabs | Mozilla Support | ||
}}</ref> | |url= https://support.mozilla.org/kb/pocket-sponsored-stories-new-tabs | ||
|website= Mozilla Support | |||
|access-date=2 Mar 2025 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
*'''Sponsored Shortcuts''': Mozilla displays '''paid website shortcuts on the New Tab page'''. Mozilla '''gets paid per user click''' & routes click data through a '''Mozilla-owned proxy service'''.<ref name="sponsored-shortcuts">{{cite web | |||
|title= Sponsored Shortcuts on the New Tab Page | Mozilla Support | |||
|url= https://support.mozilla.org/kb/sponsored-shortcuts-new-tab | |||
|website= Mozilla Support | |||
|access-date=2 Mar 2025 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
*'''Sponsored Suggestions in Search''': Mozilla processes search queries & '''shares de-identified interaction data with partners''', including search engines and ad networks.<ref name="firefox-privacy">{{cite web | |||
|title= Firefox Privacy Notice | |||
|url= https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/firefox/#notice | |||
|website= Mozilla | |||
|access-date=2 Mar 2025 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
Mozilla says all data shared with advertisers is '''anonymized, aggregated, or de-identified''' before being disclosed. | |||
===How this relates to Mozilla’s Privacy Policy=== | |||
Mozilla’s Privacy Policy states that user data is '''only shared in an aggregated or de-identified form'''.<ref name="mozilla-privacy">{{cite web | |||
|title= Mozilla Privacy Policy | |||
|url= https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/ | |||
|website= Mozilla | |||
|access-date=2 Mar 2025 | |||
}}</ref> The Firefox Privacy Notice also confirms:<blockquote>''Mozilla processes interaction data (such as ad clicks) & shares de-identified information with partners. Partners cannot associate these interactions with an individual user.<ref name="firefox-privacy" />''</blockquote>This lines up with Mozilla's claim that '''it does not sell personal data''' under the CCPA. | |||
===Potential CCPA Compliance Issues=== | |||
The '''California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)''' defines "selling data" as: <blockquote>''"Selling, renting, releasing, disclosing, disseminating, making available, transferring, or otherwise communicating a consumer's personal information to another business or third party in exchange for monetary or other valuable consideration."''<ref name="ccpa">{{cite web | |||
|title= CCPA Full Text | |||
|url= https://www.osano.com/resources/ccpa | |||
|website= Osano | |||
|access-date=2 Mar 2025 | |||
}}</ref></blockquote>Mozilla's '''ad system does not clearly violate the CCPA''', but it exists in a '''gray area''' because of: | |||
*'''Valuable Consideration Clause''': Mozilla '''earns money from clicks on Sponsored Shortcuts''', which '''may be considered a sale under the CCPA''' if user data has "value." | |||
*'''Lack of a Clear "Do Not Sell" Option''': The CCPA requires an explicit '''"Do Not Sell My Data" button''', but '''Mozilla bundles opt-out settings under "technical and interaction data."''' when Mozilla's support page says ''"You can opt out of having your data processed for personalization or advertising purposes by turning off “technical and interaction data” on Desktop and Mobile at any time"'' <ref>https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/firefox/#health-report</ref> | |||
*'''Potential Re-identification of Data''': CCPA states that '''anonymized data can still be personal information''' if it can be linked to a user.<ref name="ccpa" /> | |||
While Mozilla tells users that '''advertisers cannot directly identify users''', '''regulators may argue that user interactions still hold monetary value''', which could require Mozilla to revise its privacy policy for full compliance. | |||
===Legitimate Reasons for Mozilla Updating Its Terms of Use=== | ===Legitimate Reasons for Mozilla Updating Its Terms of Use=== | ||