A free and open internet shouldn't come at the expense of privacy
Mozilla’s push to develop “privacy-preserving” advertising and in-browser attribution is drawing sharp criticism from users who see it as a betrayal of Firefox’s privacy-first image and a step toward becoming just another ad-tech company. Commenters argue that default telemetry, new tracking-related features, and close collaboration with major advertisers undermine claims of user protection, and many question whether any form of targeted advertising can be compatible with a truly private, open web. The exchange also touches on broader concerns about browser engine power, the lack of trustworthy alternatives, and whether regulation is now the only realistic way to curb surveillance-based business models.
Perception of Mozilla’s Privacy Stance
- Many see the blog post title as misleading compared to the substance, which is viewed as Mozilla justifying new browser-integrated ad tech.
- Commenters accuse Mozilla of hypocrisy: promoting privacy while shipping telemetry by default and experimenting with “privacy-preserving attribution” / ad tracking features enabled without explicit consent.
- Some argue Mozilla is effectively pivoting into an ad company and that Firefox now primarily serves this business, creating a conflict of interest with users.
Targeted Advertising, Ethics, and “Fixing the System”
- Strong view that surveillance-based or targeted advertising is fundamentally incompatible with privacy and a “healthy web.”
- Several argue there is no such thing as “ethical ads”; advertising is inherently manipulative.
- Others distinguish between generic/contextual ads (seen as tolerable) and user-tracking-based targeting (seen as the core problem).
- A recurring criticism: you don’t fix a harmful system by becoming part of it; Mozilla is seen as “fighting monsters by becoming one.”
Browser Tracking, Telemetry, and Regulation
- Concerns that Firefox’s default telemetry and new attribution features may violate EU privacy law; reference to a complaint by a privacy group in Austria.
- Some expect EU regulation to be the only realistic lever to restrain large ad-tech players and browser vendors.
Alternatives to Firefox and Engine Lock-In
- Suggested alternatives: Firefox forks (LibreWolf, Icecat, Zen, SeaMonkey), Brave, Orion (WebKit, Mac-only), and future engines like Ladybird and Servo/Verso.
- Skepticism that small projects can keep up with upstream engines or systematically undo tracking-friendly changes.
Economics of the Web and Ads
- Deep disagreement over whether advertising is truly necessary to fund a “free and open” internet.
- Some argue we could live with far less profit-driven content, more user-funded or hobbyist content, and contextual ads only.
- Others counter that, in today’s capitalist framework, large-scale “free” services without ads or paywalls lack a viable, scalable model.
Technical Debate: Cookies and Tracking
- Discussion on whether cookies and privacy can coexist.
- Some propose eliminating cookies and rich browser identifiers to kill targeting; others note this would break many authenticated experiences or just shift tracking elsewhere.
- Consensus that browsers leak substantial identifying data; disagreement on whether technical changes alone can solve the problem versus legal restrictions on data use.