Transparency

Transparency is a key part of how Mozilla approaches user trust. As an open source project that relies on open development, we build transparency into the way we write our code. Additionally, our product documentation and notices describe how our products work and how we handle user data. Our Content Moderation page provides more detail on how we handle content moderation generally.

With this transparency in mind, we publish bi-annual transparency reports. Most industry transparency reports offer insights into government disclosures and takedown requests. Mozilla's transparency report goes further with the number of personal data requests we receive, the number of copyright, trademark, and other takedown requests we receive, and details on our targeted advertising practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Definitions

Counter Notice

Documentation that meets the counter notification requirements set forth here in response to a Takedown Notice.

Court Order

An order issued by a judge or magistrate compelling a company to engage or refrain from certain action.

Cybersecurity Threat Indicator

Pieces of information about a threat to a computer network or system, such as a vulnerability, piece of malicious code, or the IP address of an attacker. This definition is based on the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA); the full definition is at 6 U.S.C. § 1501(6).

Emergency Request

A request from a government agency seeking information on an expedited basis in connection with an emergency, typically involving death or serious injury.

Examples of Legal Processes within the United States include: Emergency Request, Court Order, National Security Request, Pen Register Order, Search Warrant, Subpoena and Wiretap Order.

Examples of Legal Process from outside the United States include: Letters Rogatory and requests through a MLAT (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty).

Letters Rogatory

A Court Order issued by a Court within the United States after a formal request from a Court outside the United States. Letters Rogatory must be valid in both the United States and the originating country.

MLAT (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty)

A treaty between the United States and another country authorizing a Court in the United States to issue a Court Order upon a request from another country. MLAT requests must be valid in both the United States and the originating country.

National Security Request

A National Security Letter issued under 18 U.S.C.§2709, a Court Order issued under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or any other classified request for user information issued in the U.S.

Pen Register Order

A Pen Register and Trap and Trace Order is a type of U.S. Court Order compelling a company to disclose data about a user’s real­time communications (excluding the content of the communications themselves) to law enforcement on an ongoing basis, usually for a period of 60 days.

Personal Data Request

A user-generated request about personal data such as how to delete, port, modify or access it. For the purpose of our Transparency Report, we count the number of requests received by email, post, or to our portal for Data Subject Access Requests. We don’t count (or have metrics for) the number of such requests that our users process themselves through in-product features.

Search Warrant

A document authorizing law enforcement to obtain user data issued by a neutral and detached magistrate on the basis of finding that “probable cause” exists to believe that the items being sought will be found in the place to be searched.

Specific User

An identifiable user of Mozilla’s products and services.

Subpoena

A formal request for the production of evidence or testimony that can be issued by a government agency or court. Judicial review is not necessarily required.

Targeting Parameters

Pieces of information that an advertiser chooses to determine which users of a platform will see their advertisements. These may include device type, location, engagement with the platform, demographic information, interests, or other information.

Takedown Notice

Documentation that meets the requirements set forth in our reporting copyright or trademark infringement page.

Wiretap Order

A type of U.S. Court Order compelling a company to disclose the metadata and content of a user’s real­time communications to law enforcement on an ongoing basis, usually for a period of 30 days.