The US Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Google threatens the very existence of Firefox. Mozilla has warned that losing its partnership with the search giant would be catastrophic for the browser due to the risk of losing its main source of funding.
Firefox has served as a long-standing alternative to Chrome and Safari, but the Department of Justice is demanding that Google stop paying to be the default search engine in third-party browsers, including Firefox. This demand is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle Google’s search monopoly, which a federal court ruled illegal last year, PCWorld reminds. For Mozilla, however, such actions could lead to the loss of 85% of its revenue—currently generated through the deal with Google.
According to Mozilla CFO Eric Muhlheim, the termination of this funding would force the company into major layoffs, as Firefox alone contributes about 90% of the Mozilla Foundation’s income. With fewer resources, the browser could lose its user base and eventually disappear. Other Mozilla initiatives, such as AI research, would also be jeopardized.
A Shrinking Competitive Landscape
Muhlheim emphasizes that such restrictions could inadvertently strengthen Google’s position. The Firefox Gecko engine remains the only major browser engine not owned by a tech giant, as it belongs to a non-profit organization. If Firefox were to shut down, the browser market would be left almost entirely to Google Chrome and Apple Safari, narrowing competition even further.
Mozilla is currently in talks with other search engines, including Microsoft, exploring the possibility of setting Bing as the default, notes NIXSOLUTIONS. However, even a company of Microsoft’s scale is unlikely to match the funding Mozilla currently receives from Google. It’s worth noting that Mozilla has tried to make such changes before, but faced significant backlash from users.
What the Loss of Firefox Could Mean
Analysts warn that if Firefox disappears, the impact could ripple across the entire internet industry. Firefox has stood as one of the last remaining independent browser options for decades. Its potential closure would further concentrate control of the browser market in the hands of two dominant players.
Mozilla’s situation remains uncertain, but we’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available or if new partnerships are confirmed.