Mozilla has addressed the backlash from users over the updated Terms of Use for its Firefox web browser, which some critics argue contains overly broad language that appears to grant the company excessive rights to user data. According to Mozilla, the new terms are intended to formalize its relationship with users and clearly outline what they are agreeing to when using Firefox, rather than marking a change in how the company utilizes data.

On Wednesday, the browser maker introduced a new Terms of Use and updated Privacy Notice for Firefox, aiming to provide users with greater transparency regarding their rights and permissions, as well as a more detailed explanation of its data practices. The company stated that it strives to make these agreements easy to understand, with no surprises in how the product operates.

However, some confusion arose, prompting Mozilla to update its blog post to clarify that its terms do not confer ownership of user data or the right to use it beyond what is specified in the Privacy Notice. Users who reviewed the new terms expressed concern over the vague language, which grants Mozilla a “nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use” uploaded or input information to facilitate navigation and interaction with online content.

Several critics, including Brendan Eich, co-founder and CEO of Brave Software, pointed out that this statement seems excessively broad. Eich responded to Mozilla’s updated terms by expressing his surprise and suggesting that the wording may be related to a business pivot to monetize data for AI and other purposes.

When asked for clarification, Mozilla stated that its Privacy Notice still applies when using AI features, and content data is not sent to the company or third parties. Additionally, data shared with advertisers is de-identified. A spokesperson for Mozilla emphasized that the changes are not driven by a desire to use user data for AI or sell it to advertisers, but rather to operate Firefox as indicated by the user’s usage.

The company also clarified its relationship with advertisers, explaining that it sells advertising in Firefox to fund browser development. Mozilla aims to create privacy-preserving ads products that improve industry best practices, and only collects and shares data with advertising partners on a de-identified or aggregated basis.

Users can opt out of having their data processed for advertising purposes by disabling a setting related to “technical and interaction data” on both desktop and mobile devices. Mozilla further explained that the terms “nonexclusive,” “royalty-free,” and “worldwide” were used to indicate that users retain control over their data, Firefox is free, and the browser provides global access to the internet.

Despite Mozilla’s assurances, some users may continue to question the broad language used in the terms, potentially leading to a shift in browser usage. This could have negative consequences for Firefox, which already has a relatively small market share of 2.54% worldwide, trailing behind Chrome, Safari, and Edge.

In summary, Mozilla has responded to user concerns over its updated Terms of Use, clarifying that the changes are intended to formalize its relationship with users and provide transparency, rather than alter its data usage practices. While some users may remain skeptical, the company has emphasized its commitment to privacy and user control.