Mozilla Manifesto
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The Mozilla Manifesto lays out the guiding principles of the Mozilla Foundation, the non-profit that leads the open-source Mozilla project best-known for its Firefox web browser.[1][2] Penned in 2007 by Mitchell Baker, with adjustments in 2018, it promotes free software, universal access to the internet, and interoperable technologies, and emphasizes values of privacy, openness, and a belief in the ability of the internet to enrich the lives of people.[3][4]
History[edit]
The manifesto, adapted from principles Mozilla had held since it was founded in 1998, was written by Mitchell Baker and originally published in 2007.[5][6] As a result of the subsequent evolution of the internet, which led Baker to believe that "the power of the internet [has been] used to magnify divisiveness, incite violence, promote hatred, and intentionally manipulate fact and reality",[6] the manifesto was updated on the 20th anniversary of the founding of Mozilla in 2018 to add values of human dignity, tolerance, and civil discourse.[7][8]
Content[edit]
The manifesto outlines the guiding principles of the Mozilla Foundation and includes a pledge for how it will further those principles.[1] It also asserts Mozilla's commitment to the internet, saying: "The open, global internet is the most powerful communication and collaboration resource we have ever seen. It embodies some of our deepest hopes for human progress."
Principles[edit]
The manifesto lays out 10 key principles:[1]
- The internet is an integral part of modern life—a key component in education, communication, collaboration, business, entertainment and society as a whole.
- The internet is a global public resource that must remain open and accessible.
- The internet must enrich the lives of individual human beings.
- Individuals’ security and privacy on the internet are fundamental and must not be treated as optional.
- Individuals must have the ability to shape the internet and their own experiences on it.
- The effectiveness of the internet as a public resource depends upon interoperability (protocols, data formats, content), innovation and decentralized participation worldwide.
- Free and open source software promotes the development of the internet as a public resource.
- Transparent community-based processes promote participation, accountability and trust.
- Commercial involvement in the development of the internet brings many benefits; a balance between commercial profit and public benefit is critical.
- Magnifying the public benefit aspects of the internet is an important goal, worthy of time, attention and commitment.
Pledge[edit]
The manifesto also includes a pledge outlining Mozilla's commitments.[1] These are to:
- Build and enable open-source technologies and communities that support the Manifesto’s principles;
- Build and deliver great consumer products that support the Manifesto’s principles;
- Use the Mozilla assets (intellectual property such as copyrights and trademarks, infrastructure, funds, and reputation) to keep the Internet an open platform;
- Promote models for creating economic value for the public benefit; and
- Promote the Mozilla Manifesto principles in public discourse and within the Internet industry.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Mozilla Manifesto". Mozilla. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Anderson, Nate (28 May 2007). "The Mozilla Manifesto: with great power comes great responsibility". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Markoff, John (8 June 2008). "Mozilla Names New Chief, but Reaffirms Open-Source Commitment". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Captain, Sean (8 November 2019). "Firefox at 15: its rise, fall, and privacy-first renaissance". Fast Company. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Nate Anderson (May 29, 2007). "The Mozilla Manifesto: with great power comes great responsibility". Ars Technica.
- ^ a b Pierce, David (9 February 2020). "Mozilla lost the browser wars. It still thinks it can save the internet". protocol. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Baker, Mitchell (29 March 2018). "Mozilla marks 20th anniversary with commitment to better human experiences online". Mozilla. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Ellis, Cat (4 April 2018). "Mozilla: "To have a healthy society, you need a healthy infrastructure"". Tech Radar. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
External links[edit]