Mozilla Ends Controversial Partnership with Onerep Amid Privacy Concerns

Mozilla has officially ended its partnership with Onerep amid significant privacy concerns. This decision comes after over a year of controversy regarding Onerep's data practices, particularly the actions of its founder, who was reportedly involved in operating people-search and data-broker sites.

According to KrebsOnSecurity, Mozilla announced that Monitor Plus, a service that provided data broker site scans and automated personal data removal from Onerep, will be discontinued by December 2025.

Existing subscribers will receive prorated refunds, and Mozilla has committed to focusing on privacy tools that it fully controls. The statement released by Mozilla emphasized their dedication to maintaining high standards for vendors involved in user privacy, stating that the realities of the data broker ecosystem made it challenging to consistently deliver the value and reliability their users expect.

During the transition, current Monitor Plus subscribers will retain full access to the service until the wind-down period concludes on December 17, 2025. After that date, subscribers will automatically receive refunds for any unused subscription time.

Mozilla's announcement also reassured users that they will continue to offer their free Monitor data breach service, integrated into Firefox's credential manager, while enhancing privacy and security features within Firefox, including their VPN service, at no cost.

This decision highlights the increasing emphasis on user privacy within the tech industry, reflecting a growing awareness of the ethical implications surrounding data handling practices. Mozilla's actions may set a precedent for other companies in the tech sector as consumer demand for privacy and data protection rises, particularly in light of ongoing discussions regarding GDPR compliance and consumer data rights.

The public backlash against Onerep's practices underscores the critical importance of transparency and ethical standards in the management of personal data in today's digital landscape. As the tech industry continues to grapple with these issues, Mozilla's move to end its partnership with Onerep could signal a shift towards more responsible data stewardship and user trust in privacy-focused initiatives.