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Encryption is woven into everyday digital life. It protects our messages and passwords, but also banking and payments, health data, government services and the digital infrastructure societies rely on every day. Yet across jurisdictions, governments are increasingly considering laws that expand lawful access to data for law enforcement and national security purposes. In practice, this can mean requiring companies to create new ways to access encrypted data, introduce technical capabilities that bypass existing protections, or make otherwise secure systems insecure. These measures can weaken the very security encryption is designed to provide, with consequences for cybersecurity, privacy, fundamental rights and the wider economy. Canada's Bill C-22 is the latest example of this trend, raising serious concerns about the security and privacy consequences of expanding government access to data.

For Mozilla, protecting that security is fundamental to both the products we build and the principles we advocate for. One of the foundational principles that guide Mozilla's mission and work holds that individuals' security and privacy on the internet are fundamental and must not be treated as optional. Protecting people's privacy and security is not an aspiration for us, but shapes the products we build every day: Firefox blocks trackers, protects you from profiling via cookies and fingerprinting, comes with malware protection and a built-in VPN, offers HTTPs-only mode and protects your passwords and credit card information by encrypting them.

Some of these protections are being threatened by Canada's Lawful Access Act, also known as bill C-22. Part two of the bill, the "Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act" (SAAIA) would introduce sweeping new powers to require electronic service providers to build and maintain capabilities that facilitate government access to information. If passed in its current form, companies could be asked to introduce vulnerabilities, build backdoors, bypass, weaken or otherwise defeat encryption, access data before encryption or decrypt encrypted data to provide access to law enforcement. Service providers could also be compelled to retain and access data they have purposefully chosen not to collect.

Let us be clear: there is no safe way to create exceptional access to encrypted data that only the intended actor can use. An access mechanism created for law enforcement can also be discovered, exploited or abused by potentially bad actors.

Such vulnerabilities and backdoors do not only undermine people's fundamental rights to privacy and data protection, but also the trust and security premises societies everywhere depend on. The same encryption that protects a private conversation also protects financial transactions, sensitive health information, business systems and critical digital services.

Expanding capabilities of AI systems are only exacerbating these risks - governments should encourage the disclosure and patching of vulnerabilities, not compel companies to introduce insecurities deliberately. Only trustworthy and transparently governed digital infrastructures can be the basis for digitally sovereign societies.

We are also concerned by C-22's scope, which does not stop at Canadian services or users. C-22 expansive surveillance capabilities and data retention obligations would undermine people's privacy and security everywhere, and the bill's confidentiality requirements would make it impossible for services to inform their users about security breaches or backdoors introduced.

Guided by our Surveillance Principles for a Secure, Trusted Internet, we call on Canadian policymakers not to rush the legislative process to take experts' feedback into account in amending C-22 to protect everyone's security and privacy. Canada's interests are best served by regulation that protects encryption, strengthens cybersecurity and emphasizes transparency, checks and balances.

The post Canada's bill C-22 threatens encryption, users' privacy and the security of digital economies appeared first on Open Policy & Advocacy.

08 Oct 2026 9:35am GMT

Firefox is teaming up with AEG and taking to the main stage at Berlin's biggest and best indoor arenas. Starting this October, as the indoor music scene heats up and the basketball and ice hockey seasons are in full swing, fans flocking to the Uber Arena, Uber Eats Music Hall, and Uber Platz will see Firefox highly visible around the venue. They may even bump into our very own mascot, Kit, who will be on hand to help them skip the main queues courtesy of Firefox.

We know that the experiences people care about often begin online. The internet is the gateway to how they discover, plan, and navigate their way to concerts, sports events, and nights out before they happen in real life.

Firefox's presence will help make every step of that journey simple and smoother, starting at the door.

People with Firefox downloaded on their phone will have access to a dedicated Firefox Fast Lane that allows them to skip the main line at the Uber Arena. To ensure the smoothest possible entry, a QR code for downloading Firefox will also be available at the Fast Lane.

"People who use Firefox tend to choose things deliberately, their browser, their music, their nights out. This partnership is for them. A first for Firefox. Most browsers want more of your time online. We want you at the show, faster. Berlin is where we are starting, right across the river from our office. See you there," said John Solomon, Mozilla-Firefox Chief Marketing Officer.

We are excited to bring what we stand for to Berlin's premier entertainment venue - choice, control, and a better experience to the moments that people want to enjoy and truly care about.

The post Firefox partners with Anschutz Entertainment Group at the Uber Arena and Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin appeared first on The Mozilla Blog.

08 Oct 2026 7:00am GMT

Today, we are very pleased to announce two new additions to the Mozilla Corporation Board of Directors: Jambu Palaniappan and David Parry-Jones.

As we build the next chapter of Mozilla, we've been focused on bringing people onto our Board who combine deep operating experience with a real commitment to the values Mozilla stands for. Jambu and David bring deep experience building and leading technology businesses, and each brings a unique perspective to our Board.

Jambu Palaniappan is the Chief Executive Officer of Checkatrade, where he drives the company's mission of Powering Great Work. The home improvement platform connects consumers across the UK with quality tradespeople - every year, Checkatrade improves millions of homes and delivers billions of pounds of work to small and medium-sized businesses.

Before joining Checkatrade, Jambu was Managing Partner and Head of Europe at OMERS Ventures, where he invested in and supported high-growth technology companies. Earlier in his career, he spent several years at Uber and Uber Eats, joining as one of the first 100 employees and leading expansion across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Jambu holds a degree in Public Policy and Economics from Vanderbilt University.

David Parry-Jones is a board director and former Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) with more than 30 years of experience scaling technology businesses internationally. Most recently, he served as CRO at DeepL and previously held senior leadership roles at Microsoft, VMware, and Twilio. He has led large teams across diverse markets and cultures, working with both early-stage companies and global enterprises.

As a board member and adviser, he brings a practical perspective on growth, international expansion, and building strong teams that turn strategy into results.

Please join me in welcoming Jambu and David to the Mozilla Corporation Board of Directors.

The post Jambu Palaniappan and David Parry-Jones join the Mozilla Corporation Board of Directors appeared first on The Mozilla Blog.

07 Oct 2026 6:37pm GMT