Facing backlash for his push to turn Firefox into an AI browser, Mozilla’s new CEO says the company is working on a “kill switch” that will shut down all AI features.
Anthony Enzor-DeMeo mentioned the kill switch on Reddit after a user published an open letter blasting the AI focus as out of touch with the community. “Firefox doesn’t need AI, it needs leadership that listens,” the user writes. “Mozilla has a pattern of struggling to implement and support basic features, and much of the time fails to even acknowledge serious user feedback.”
In response, Enzor-DeMeo said he appreciated the open letter, but also defended his approach, which includes expanding Mozilla’s focus to build news products alongside Firefox. “My job is not to ignore one group to serve another. It is to make Firefox work for everyone without losing its core values,” he wrote.
“Rest assured, Firefox will always remain a browser built around user control,” he added. “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.”
The official Mozilla account on Mastodon also offered extra details about the upcoming shutdown button. “We’ve been calling it the AI kill switch internally. I’m sure it’ll ship with a less murderous name, but that’s how seriously and absolutely we’re taking this,” the company wrote.
“All AI features will also be opt-in. I think there are some gray 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 [the] future. That’s unambiguous,” Mozilla added.
Recommended by Our Editors
Time will tell if the kill switch placates Firefox users opposed to the AI push, which is also happening on rival browsers, including Google Chrome. However, upon assuming the position, Enzor-DeMeo said his overarching goal was to turn Mozilla into the “world’s most trusted software company.” To do so, he plans on making Firefox and other products operate “through transparent monetization.”
“Privacy, data use, and AI must be clear and understandable. Controls must be simple,” he said.
Get Our Best Stories!
Your Daily Dose of Our Top Tech News
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
Read Full Bio
