![Firefox for Android logo](https://assets-prod.sumo.prod.webservices.mozgcp.net/media/uploads/products/2020-04-14-08-37-28-a0d9f0_1.png)
How can I ascertain that Android is not also using my given permissions to Firefox, considering that I'm in Google store and not in Mozilla, when giving them?
AS other Firefox for Android users I have a huge problem with all the permissions required in order to install the app. 90% of these requirements invade my privacy to an uncontrolled extent and I have the strong suspicion that these requests stem not from Mozilla, but from Android.
1. I am not assured as my question says "that Android is not also using my given permissions to Firefox, considering that I'm in Google store and not in Mozilla, when giving them?" 2. The explanations Mozilla gives regarding the use of certain permissions ("How does Firefox for Android use the permissions it requests? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-firefox-android-use-permissions-it-requests") are not convincing. Practically none of the requested permissions have any relevance with using the internet, e.g. access to my contacts, my position, taking pictures and videos, camera and microphone, etc. etc. I do not want to give these permissions (to Google/Android) and moreover in many of the permission cases Mozilla states that it will not initiate use without prior asking for permission! Can it be that Mozilla is being forced here by Google to proceed in this way? In any case it does not comply with the Mozilla philosophy on privacy and I would hate to see Mozilla being pushed in a position like this. I also refer to the same reflection as I have, which I found on the forum (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1111840)
Mozilla, please do something about it, open your own store for android or provide the app through another channel. You guys and girls are clever enough to set up such a fabulous independent browser; surely you must be able to solve this problem?
Good luck and rtegards, Henk Niekoop (Using Mozilla since the nineties)
Chosen solution
Mozilla itself is not requesting these permissions. Android is. The way android was built requires that we give permissions to all things that the app might wanna use. At any point in time. Fortunately, that no longer the case in the Marshmallow (Android 6.0). There you can choose to deny giving permissions to any thing you don't want to give permissions to. And you can remove permissions to things you previously your apps access to. So, if the update to 6.0 is available for you, go ahead and install it. If it's not, just wait a little while longer - it should be available soon.
Ler a resposta no contexto 👍 1All Replies (3)
Chosen Solution
Mozilla itself is not requesting these permissions. Android is. The way android was built requires that we give permissions to all things that the app might wanna use. At any point in time. Fortunately, that no longer the case in the Marshmallow (Android 6.0). There you can choose to deny giving permissions to any thing you don't want to give permissions to. And you can remove permissions to things you previously your apps access to. So, if the update to 6.0 is available for you, go ahead and install it. If it's not, just wait a little while longer - it should be available soon.
Dear Grad, thank you for your reply which basically confirmed my suspicion re. Android demanding all this superfluous permissions. Although it doesn't quite solve my problem, since I have a rather old smart phone, which may or may noy be able to handle Android 6.0 (at present 4.1.2), it seems to be the only solution against the intrusivenes of Google and Co. Maybe a good time to get a new phone.
Thanks again and regards, Henk
See the following document about how Firefox for Android uses permissions. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-firefox-android-use-permissions-it-requests