Firefox Will Ship With an 'AI Kill Switch' To Completely Disable All AI Features (9to5linux.com)
(Saturday December 20, 2025 @11:34AM (EditorDavid)
from the more-from-Mozilla dept.)
- Reference: 0180428057
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/12/20/0643217/firefox-will-ship-with-an-ai-kill-switch-to-completely-disable-all-ai-features
- Source link: https://9to5linux.com/firefox-will-ship-with-an-ai-kill-switch-to-completely-disable-all-ai-features
An anonymous reader shared [1]this report from 9to5Linux :
> After the [2]controversial news shared earlier this week by Mozilla's new CEO that Firefox will evolve into "a modern AI browser," the company now revealed it is working on an AI kill switch for the open-source web browser...
>
> What was not made clear [in [3]Tuesday's comments by new Mozilla CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo is that Firefox will also ship with an AI kill switch that will let users completely disable all the AI features that are included in Firefox. Mozilla shared this important update earlier Thursday to make it clear to everyone that Firefox will still be a trusted web browser.... "...that's how seriously and absolutely we're taking this," said Firefox developer Jake Archibald [4]on Mastodon .
>
> In addition, Jake Archibald said that all the AI features that are or will be included in Firefox will also be opt-in. "I think there are some grey areas in what 'opt-in' means to different people (e.g. is a new toolbar button opt-in?), but the kill switch will absolutely remove all that stuff, and never show it in future. That's unambiguous..."
>
> Mozilla has contacted me shortly after writing the story to confirm that the "AI Kill Switch" will be implemented in Q1 2026."
The article also cites this quote [5]left by Mozilla's new CEO on Reddit :
"Rest assured, Firefox will always remain a browser built around user control. That includes AI. You will have a clear way to turn AI features off. A real kill switch is coming in Q1 of 2026. Choice matters and demonstrating our commitment to choice is how we build and maintain trust."
[1] https://9to5linux.com/firefox-will-ship-with-an-ai-kill-switch-to-completely-disable-all-ai-features
[2] https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/leadership/mozillas-next-chapter-anthony-enzor-demeo-new-ceo/
[3] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/16/1359204/mozillas-new-ceo-bets-firefoxs-future-on-ai
[4] https://mastodon.social/@firefoxwebdevs/115740500373677782
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1poe7kb/comment/nuiuwkh/
> After the [2]controversial news shared earlier this week by Mozilla's new CEO that Firefox will evolve into "a modern AI browser," the company now revealed it is working on an AI kill switch for the open-source web browser...
>
> What was not made clear [in [3]Tuesday's comments by new Mozilla CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo is that Firefox will also ship with an AI kill switch that will let users completely disable all the AI features that are included in Firefox. Mozilla shared this important update earlier Thursday to make it clear to everyone that Firefox will still be a trusted web browser.... "...that's how seriously and absolutely we're taking this," said Firefox developer Jake Archibald [4]on Mastodon .
>
> In addition, Jake Archibald said that all the AI features that are or will be included in Firefox will also be opt-in. "I think there are some grey areas in what 'opt-in' means to different people (e.g. is a new toolbar button opt-in?), but the kill switch will absolutely remove all that stuff, and never show it in future. That's unambiguous..."
>
> Mozilla has contacted me shortly after writing the story to confirm that the "AI Kill Switch" will be implemented in Q1 2026."
The article also cites this quote [5]left by Mozilla's new CEO on Reddit :
"Rest assured, Firefox will always remain a browser built around user control. That includes AI. You will have a clear way to turn AI features off. A real kill switch is coming in Q1 of 2026. Choice matters and demonstrating our commitment to choice is how we build and maintain trust."
[1] https://9to5linux.com/firefox-will-ship-with-an-ai-kill-switch-to-completely-disable-all-ai-features
[2] https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/leadership/mozillas-next-chapter-anthony-enzor-demeo-new-ceo/
[3] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/16/1359204/mozillas-new-ceo-bets-firefoxs-future-on-ai
[4] https://mastodon.social/@firefoxwebdevs/115740500373677782
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1poe7kb/comment/nuiuwkh/
Will the AI Killswitch be Off by Default? (Score:2)
by BrendaEM ( 871664 )
Because that is exactly what you would do if you honored peoples' privacy, sanity, and morals.
Basisk Browser (Score:2)
by BrendaEM ( 871664 )
[1]https://www.basilisk-browser.o... [basilisk-browser.org]
[1] https://www.basilisk-browser.org/
There is only one acceptable "kill switch". (Score:3)
by Mr. Dollar Ton ( 5495648 )
It is the "uninstall this extension" button.
The extension system is there for a reason, use it.
Also, make "install this extension" the prerequisite to enable that button, if you catch my drift.
Right. (Score:2)
So the new AI is going to be so 'opt-in' that it needs a killswitch you can use to get rid of it?
I realize that marketing and PR flacks are subhuman enemies of communication; but that's not even pretending to be what 'opt-in' means.
Re: Right. (Score:2)
It's opt in as in it won't send your data anywhere unless you click the "summarize with AI" button or the "chat with AI" button.
It has a "kill switch" which removes those buttons (and presumably whatever new stuff they add).