this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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Mozilla finally landed today the long-anticipated AI Kill Switch controls for Firefox, which let users strip the open-source web browser of any AI-powered features, and you can test it right now in Firefox Nightly.

In December 2025, when Mozilla appointed its new CEO, the company developing the popular Firefox web browser revealed that it was working on an AI kill switch that would let users completely disable all the AI features that had been included in the past few releases, estranging more and more loyal users.

Now, the AI kill switch is finally a reality as it landed today with the latest Firefox Nightly update. The implementation is called “AI Controls” and can be found in Firefox’s settings as a standalone section. From there, users can toggle a setting called “Block AI Enhancements” to remove any AI features.

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[–] semimarcy@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 9 hours ago

this is cool to see, Mozilla is not being perfect, but its better than chromium still, personally using Zen because thats the best browser for me, if firefox dies, so does it, and I personally don't want that, this is a win, even if having it be opt out sucks

[–] not_IO@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

where is the single user data collection and selling kill switch

[–] cheesorist@lemmy.world 2 points 9 hours ago

"let me parrot what people say about chrome to ff"

[–] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 13 points 20 hours ago

appreciate how it's not buried in the options; it's right in the main menu in the settings page.

[–] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 30 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

I think it's a good thing: we complained and they listened. FF is far from being perfect and I'm definitely not a fan of some of the decisions they made recently, but it's still the best browser out there. It's great that there is forks but they are only possible if FF base keeps being updated.

[–] timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works 2 points 13 hours ago

Same. This is easy for me and great for the best browser. Better late than never.

[–] rizzothesmall@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Moz: We're an AI first browser. There's AI in everything now!

Everyone: Boooo *uninstalls*

Moz: We're not an AI first browser. We've added these control features so you can reduce the AI.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Disable the AI*

After all that's the only reason for a "killswitch", no?

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[–] finalarbiter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 113 points 1 day ago (19 children)

They should never have rolled out any of these AI features without this already implemented. I think it really speaks to their priorities that they rolled it out in this order.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 35 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Mozilla's CEO also recently said they would be building new products based on pre-established trust. I think they got their chronology wrong on that too...

[–] finalarbiter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 1 day ago

Right, what trust? The trust they lost by putting dumbass MBAs in charge who don't know shit and chase short term profits over sustaining a healthy community?

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[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Alternative interpretation: the CEO had the focus on pushing the imaginary game-changer and so the controls came later.

[–] Sarothazrom@lemmy.world 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Better nate than the lever at least, especially when you look at chrome in comparison.

[–] flowers_galore2@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

A Nate the Snake reference? Fsck yeahhhhhh

[–] Sarothazrom@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍

[–] Deestan@lemmy.world 51 points 1 day ago (1 children)

As a Firefox user, this is not long-awaited. It's a tepid excuse for a dead project. The forks of Firefox are the only real alternatives if you value privacy over convenience. If you don't, then there are faster browers than FF anyway.

[–] ConfidentMoose3@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago (4 children)

As a 10-year FF user, do you have any recomendations to what to switch to?

Waterfox if you want something that still feels like a modern browser, LibreWolf if you don't mind having stricter defaults. If you want the nuclear option, Mullvad browser is good, it is very inconvenient thoygh. At least for desktop. On mobile I use Vivaldi/Fennec/Vanadium depending on need

[–] garretble@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago

I tend to like Zen browser. It looks and feels a bit different, but to me that feels refreshing.

[–] Deestan@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

I went to Librefox. It has some harsh defaults that I ended up tuning, but so far it works well. Could just port over bookmarks and such.

[–] KuzhinierSileon@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I haven't personally yet, but a lot of people suggest switching to LibreWolf on PC and to either Fennec or Waterfox on mobile. At least on Android, since I can't be bothered to look up the availability on iOS.

[–] artiman@piefed.social 3 points 23 hours ago

on android ironfox is more similiar to librewolf

[–] zdanger@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago

Too little, too late for me. I've already moved to Librewolf on everything with a GUI. Ironfox on my phone

[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 18 points 1 day ago

There should never need to be a “kill switch” for a feature the developers have full control over.

Just make it opt-in. An AI kill switch makes me think that they’ve got a setting that will block all known AI interfaces and generated content, which is not what this does.

[–] CombatWombatEsq@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

I was a Netscape navigator user back in the day, so I’ve come and gone from Firefox a few times. I already switched to librewolf on desktop and Vivaldi on mobile. I appreciate them doing this, but I’m not switching back until there’s another forcing function.

[–] Toes@ani.social 13 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I'm just using the Firefox ESR client until its phased out.

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[–] stormesp@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Did they ever tackle all the data collection they introduced? iirc it was opt out not opt in

[–] KiwiTB@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago (14 children)

Nope.... And ads built in is still a thing

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The fact that they can’t find enough utility in AI to make people want to use it is telling.

[–] tyrant@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

They lost me already. I've migrated away from base Firefox.

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