Firefox’s New Data Policy: What Changed and Why It’s Causing Privacy Concerns

Introduction

Mozilla’s Firefox browser has long been championed as a privacy-friendly alternative to the likes of Google Chrome. However, recent changes to Firefox’s terms and privacy policies have many users on edge. In February 2025, Mozilla introduced a new Terms of Use and updated its Privacy Notice for Firefox, quietly tweaking language around data collection and sharing. Most notably, they removed their once-definitive promise that “we don’t sell your data”, leaving the door open to possibilities that were previously off-limits.

These changes – including broader data collection practices and legal wording that potentially allows user data to be shared or even “sold” – are raising red flags in the Firefox community. This article breaks down what exactly changed, why it’s concerning, and how Firefox’s new stance compares to other major browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Brave in terms of privacy and data collection.

What Changed in Firefox’s Data Policies?

Removal of the “No Data Selling” Promise

Firefox’s privacy documentation used to assure users that Mozilla does not sell their data. This was a point of pride and a key differentiator for Firefox. In the revised Privacy FAQ published in 2025, that explicit assurance is gone. Mozilla explains that they stepped back from a “definitive” no-sell statement because the legal definition of “selling data” has become very broad under certain laws.

In place of the blanket “we never sell your data” promise, Mozilla’s FAQ now gives a nuanced answer. Mozilla insists it doesn’t sell user data in the way people typically think of “selling data,” and it doesn’t buy user data either. However, they acknowledge that to keep Firefox “commercially viable,” they do share some data with partners – for instance, through Firefox’s sponsored new tab tiles or search partnerships – albeit “stripped of any identifying information” or in aggregate form.

New Terms of Use and Broad License to User Content

For the first time, Mozilla introduced an official Terms of Use (TOU) for Firefox. Buried in the initial version of this document was a clause that granted Mozilla a broad license to use content you upload or input through Firefox. Specifically, it stated that by using Firefox, “you hereby grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use [your] information to help you navigate, experience, and interact with online content.”

Mozilla quickly responded to the backlash by clarifying the intent of this clause. They updated the Terms of Use language to make it clear that Mozilla only has the rights necessary to operate Firefox as instructed by the user – nothing more. The revised text emphasizes that this license is solely for the purpose of doing what you ask the browser to do with your content (like display a webpage or upload a file), and explicitly notes it “does not give Mozilla any ownership” of what you share through Firefox.

Expanded Data Collection in the Privacy Notice

Perhaps even more unsettling to privacy-conscious users are the changes in Firefox’s Privacy Notice, which outline what data Firefox collects and why. Mozilla made several expansions here:

  • More Types of Data Collected: The new policy indicates Firefox will collect data like “unique identifiers” and “browsing data” in order to “market [our] services.”
  • Location Data and Other Personal Info: Some users even reported seeing notifications about Firefox’s data-sharing practices changing on mobile devices.
  • “All Data Types” for Legal Compliance: The Privacy Notice update also included a catch-all statement that Mozilla may collect “all data types” as necessary to comply with laws or prevent harm/illegal activity.

How Firefox’s Stance Compares to Chrome, Edge, and Brave

Google Chrome: Convenience at the Cost of Data

Google Chrome is the world’s most popular browser, but it’s also notoriously data-hungry. Chrome collects extensive user data by default, including browsing history, search queries, and location.

Microsoft Edge: Privacy Tweaks with a Side of Telemetry

Edge provides some strong privacy controls but also sends a significant amount of telemetry data back to Microsoft. It ranks poorly in independent privacy studies.

Brave: Privacy by Design

Brave is a privacy-focused browser that blocks ads and trackers by default. Unlike Firefox, it does not collect user data or share it with third parties.

Conclusion: Balancing User Privacy with Browser Sustainability

Mozilla’s recent policy changes highlight a fundamental tension in today’s internet: how to fund and improve free products without trading away user privacy. Firefox remains more private than Chrome or Edge, but some users are now considering Brave or privacy-focused Firefox forks.

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#Firefox #Privacy #DataPrivacy