Firefox
TAS Score: S3/3 — D4/5 — A3 / T2 D4 not D5: some telemetry enabled by default — opt-out available (Q4).
Brief Description
Open-source web browser by Mozilla. Independent rendering engine (Gecko). Enhanced Tracking Protection built in. Supports extensions on Android. The only major browser not based on Chromium.
Architectural Role
Client-side application layer — web browsing. Independent from Google’s Blink/Chromium ecosystem.
Technical Autonomy
- Works without internet (browser needs internet for its purpose)
- Stores data locally (bookmarks, history, passwords on-device)
- Does not require external accounts (sync is optional)
- Allows data export (bookmarks, passwords export)
- Provides offline updates (F-Droid via Fennec, APK)
Philosophical Assessment (whose.world criteria)
| Criterion | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Pause | ✅ | Stop anytime. Data stays local. |
| Exit | ✅ | Export bookmarks, passwords. Standard formats. |
| Recoverability | ✅ | Sync optional. Local profile backup. |
| Visibility | ✅ | Fully open-source. MPL-2.0. |
| External Dependencies | ⚠️ | Default search deal with Google. Telemetry opt-out. |
Rating key: ✅ fully meets · ⚠️ partially meets or requires configuration · ❌ does not meet
Configuration (Minimal)
Install from F-Droid (Fennec build), Play Store, or mozilla.org.
Recommended hardening:
- Disable telemetry in Settings → Data collection
- Set search engine to DuckDuckGo or SearXNG
- Enable strict Enhanced Tracking Protection
Related Recipes
Alternatives
| Alternative | Autonomy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mull | A3 / T2 | Firefox fork with telemetry removed. Android only. |
| Brave | A3 / T1 | Chromium-based. Built-in ad blocking. |
Trajectory
Direction: stable Mozilla Foundation is a nonprofit. Market share declining but development active. Google search deal provides funding — a structural tension. Signal assessment: | Signal | Status | Evidence | |——–|——–|———-| | License | ✅ | MPL-2.0, unchanged. | | Feature gating | ✅ | All features free. | | Self-hosting | ✅ | Client app. Sync server (Firefox Sync) is self-hostable. | | Governance | ⚠️ | Mozilla Foundation/Corporation. Google revenue dependency. | Signal key: ✅ opening · ➖ neutral · ⚠️ closing —
Sources
- Website: https://www.mozilla.org/firefox
- Documentation: https://support.mozilla.org
- Repository: https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central
- Docker image: —
- Community: https://connect.mozilla.org