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  3. Android is now warning of Firefox sharing data

Android is now warning of Firefox sharing data

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  • Q [email protected]

    you're right Google's not worried.

    as for anti-trust, they're already in sentencing phase.

    ulrich@feddit.orgU This user is from outside of this forum
    ulrich@feddit.orgU This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #234

    Given the current administration, I'd be very unsurprised if that disappears.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • B [email protected]

      The whole "legal definitions are why we changed" is definitely what they're rolling with, but I don't think a lot of what you said is correct. Websites selling data is not the same as firefox selling data. If a site sells your data while you're using firefox, that is in no way shape or form involved with firefox. That's also not what they are claiming. They are strictly talking about the data that firefox directly collects and distributes. It would include search results if you searched via the address bar, I suppose. They have sold data for a while, but it's anonymized (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/sponsor-privacy).

      Firefox is free to use, but it costs a lot of money to develop. They need money, nobody here is denying that. Many users on this platform have tried to avoid any form of data collection as much as possible (myself included) so they would rather pay to fund it (though many don't). However, most people would rather pay for the service with ads and data collection. Because to them, it's basically free. Most users would never even consider moving to Firefox if it was paid. They could offer two options, one paid and one "free", but they haven't done that yet and it's not clear if they plan to.

      Most importantly, it's really about being transparent. If they need money, they shouldn't try to hide the fact they are selling anonymized data by saying "We never sell you data" or to be like "oh no, we are doing it because of legal definitions" when in reality they are selling data. I get it's a PR movement, but most of the people intentionally using Firefox are tech savvy people wanting to get away from Google's big brother approach. I get people defending Firefox, and I also get people hating on Mozilla, but we should also be clear about the reality. Firefox is, and has been selling your data (in some form), but now the laws are changing to make it more clear that what they're doing is in fact selling data.

      ? Offline
      ? Offline
      Guest
      wrote on last edited by
      #235

      Which parts do you disagree with? I'm not talking about websites selling your data after you access them through Firefox, I'm saying that now - with new definitions of "sale"/"sell" - that Firefox giving anybody any data for almost any reason can be legally construed as "selling". This isn't just the case for Firefox, it's the case for literally any web browser, and anything that can access the internet for any reason.

      Yes, I thought about including the fact that Firefox does engage in ad-based revenue, and I suppose I should've, but Firefox is pretty upfront about this and allows users to opt out of targeted advertising - and this has been the case since long before this past week or two. These ads only appear on the "new tab" page, and only if you consent to seeing them. Anybody who's dropping Firefox for this recent controversy seens to be missing that. It's very possible (and personally I think it's likely) that nothing at all has changed from within Firefox.

      B 1 Reply Last reply
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      • W [email protected]

        pot -> kettle

        M This user is from outside of this forum
        M This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote on last edited by
        #236

        Explain?

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        0
        • psythik@lemm.eeP [email protected]

          They're making shit up. I can assure you that the DDG app does in fact block trackers in other apps, by functioning as a VPN. Give it a try, it really does work.

          cock_inspecting_asexual@lemmy.worldC This user is from outside of this forum
          cock_inspecting_asexual@lemmy.worldC This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote on last edited by
          #237

          well damn now i dont know who to believe <:p

          0 1 Reply Last reply
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          • B [email protected]

            Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt. It’s more commonly used in crypto communities.

            U This user is from outside of this forum
            U This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote on last edited by
            #238

            [stern stare]

            Forgotten the history, have we? I was referring to Microsoft's tactics in the early 2000s.

            Crypto bros have watered down the term and made it a laughing matter. They ruin everything they touch. Goddamn it.

            B 1 Reply Last reply
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            • U [email protected]

              [stern stare]

              Forgotten the history, have we? I was referring to Microsoft's tactics in the early 2000s.

              Crypto bros have watered down the term and made it a laughing matter. They ruin everything they touch. Goddamn it.

              B This user is from outside of this forum
              B This user is from outside of this forum
              [email protected]
              wrote on last edited by
              #239

              Huh. I wasn’t even aware of it having that much of a history to begin with.

              U 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • B [email protected]

                Huh. I wasn’t even aware of it having that much of a history to begin with.

                U This user is from outside of this forum
                U This user is from outside of this forum
                [email protected]
                wrote on last edited by
                #240

                Oh the term has rich history! First used in modern tech sector sense in 1975 about IBM.

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • psythik@lemm.eeP [email protected]

                  It does in fact do what they claim it does, by functioning as a VPN.

                  You should probably try the app first before talking out of your ass.

                  0 This user is from outside of this forum
                  0 This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #241

                  I did have the browser app a few months ago, but didn't see any such functionality. Of course, by working as a VPN that works.

                  psythik@lemm.eeP 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • cock_inspecting_asexual@lemmy.worldC [email protected]

                    well damn now i dont know who to believe <:p

                    0 This user is from outside of this forum
                    0 This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #242

                    If the app works as a VPN as well, then that works. I was not aware that the DDG browser does that.

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • psythik@lemm.eeP [email protected]

                      It does in fact do what they claim it does, by functioning as a VPN.

                      You should probably try the app first before talking out of your ass.

                      ? Offline
                      ? Offline
                      Guest
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #243

                      Crazy that I've been downvoted for offering factual help, while the comment which is provably incorrect is up voted

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                      • D [email protected]

                        Its app that you can downloaded in F-Droid, basically it's a app that can control other app components. But before that you must Root/Unlock bootloader

                        ? Offline
                        ? Offline
                        Guest
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #244

                        Thanks very much for the info!

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • 0 [email protected]

                          I did have the browser app a few months ago, but didn't see any such functionality. Of course, by working as a VPN that works.

                          psythik@lemm.eeP This user is from outside of this forum
                          psythik@lemm.eeP This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #245

                          It's in the Settings, under "App Tracking Protection".

                          I don't even use the browser part of the app.

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                          • ? Guest

                            Which parts do you disagree with? I'm not talking about websites selling your data after you access them through Firefox, I'm saying that now - with new definitions of "sale"/"sell" - that Firefox giving anybody any data for almost any reason can be legally construed as "selling". This isn't just the case for Firefox, it's the case for literally any web browser, and anything that can access the internet for any reason.

                            Yes, I thought about including the fact that Firefox does engage in ad-based revenue, and I suppose I should've, but Firefox is pretty upfront about this and allows users to opt out of targeted advertising - and this has been the case since long before this past week or two. These ads only appear on the "new tab" page, and only if you consent to seeing them. Anybody who's dropping Firefox for this recent controversy seens to be missing that. It's very possible (and personally I think it's likely) that nothing at all has changed from within Firefox.

                            B This user is from outside of this forum
                            B This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #246

                            This comment reads differently to me than the one of yours I replied to. When you said:

                            for example if you use it for: literally any shopping or even just browsing store pages
                            That read to me like you were talking about the store itself, and not firefox.

                            Regardless, I agree with what you've just said more. My argument is moreso that Firefox has been selling data (so nothing really has changed with them), but now they're being required to state that they're selling data. I get that Mozilla doesn't want to be lumped in with "selling data" groups, because it can be done in very extremely different manners with varying levels of invasion on privacy. But I also think they should have been more up front about where they get some of their revenue, and not tried to be like "We never sell your data" while literally having sponsored suggestions (both on the new tab page, and website suggestions in the address bar).

                            As for what the current drama impacts on this? Nothing, really. Other than they are being required to disclose that they sell data, and their getting backlash because they've been trying to pretend they don't. Now that they're lumped in with the "data selling" corporations in peoples minds (even though they're very different than google), who knows if that will give them the extra room to be a bit more invasive with their data collection. They've already crossed the largest PR hurdle, so the future incremental changes would be much easier. There's no guarantee, but with traditional enshitification, it wouldn't surprise me.

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