Mozilla announced that it will terminate Firefox China business in September, but the browser functions will continue to be updated normally
Mozilla announced earlier that, starting September 29th, Beijing Mozilla Firefox Information Technology Co., Ltd. (Beijing Firefox) will terminate all operations related to Mozilla and the Firefox browser in China. However, the continued use of the Firefox browser will not be affected; it will still be available in China and will continue to receive updates. According to the announcement on the Firefox Chinese website, Mozilla and Beijing Firefox reached an agreement on May 8th of this year, confirming that Beijing Firefox will completely withdraw from local business and service operations related to Firefox. At that time, Beijing Firefox will no longer use any trademarks, copyrights, or domain names authorized by Mozilla. Mozilla explained that in the future, its headquarters or authorized third-party operators will take over the operation of the Firefox browser and related communities in China, and it will continue to work closely with Beijing Firefox to ensure a smooth transition for existing users. According to Mozilla's timeline, the following services will be terminated in stages between now and September 29, 2025: • Starting now: The Firefox Chinese website will cease providing product download services. • Effective immediately: The Firefox Passport account website will no longer accept new registrations and will be completely shut down on September 29th. Existing account sync data will be stored in encrypted form on the server, but will no longer be able to be updated and will be deleted after the deadline. • Effective immediately: The Firefox social networking site will no longer be open for registration, posting, and commenting. Users who need to back up their social networking data must complete the download before September 29th. • From 12:00 AM on September 29th: The Firefox Chinese official website, social networking site, Firefox Passport account service, and homepage will cease operations and all services will be terminated. Despite the operational restructuring, Mozilla stated that the Firefox browser will continue to be available for download and version updates, and users can still use it normally in mainland China without affecting the browser's basic functions. This adjustment signifies Mozilla's reassessment of its strategy and investment in the Chinese market. Prior to this, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it laid off 250 employees worldwide and closed its Taipei office. On the other hand, Firefox has gradually lost market share to mainstream browsers such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge globally. However, it still maintains a certain level of influence among specific user groups due to its emphasis on privacy protection and open-source principles. But with Firefox's market share continuing to decline, it seems Mozilla is considering different development strategies. For users who have long relied on Chinese resources or localized services, this structural change is undoubtedly a major turning point. Whether they can still obtain assistance and technical support through the Chinese community in the future remains to be seen, and we will have to observe Mozilla's next response strategy.