[1]: https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/android_sender_setup
It seems very likely that Firefox would be making use of GCM/FCM - I think most major apps do - so this could be it.
Incidentally, this same topics is one of the main controversies around the development of the Signal chat client - it uses GCM, which a good few prospective users object to on similar grounds.
Unfortunately, unless you've rooted your phone, GCM/FCM is the only battery-efficient way to provide push to Android phones.
But, and this is the interesting part, the userspace library of FCM can be easily reversed and cloned (the information required for that is here https://gist.github.com/justjanne/153bd4886f92be0ee57fb40842...), and the system-side part of FCM has been cloned in an open way (see the µG project).
Note: I should possibly have been clearer above by saying "is the only battery-efficient way to provide push to Android phones without root"
AFAIK f-droid always had a warning about firefox containing and promoting non free in addition of tracking users
from https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/org.mozilla.firefox :
This app has the NonFreeAdd Antifeature. This app has the Tracking Antifeature. This app has the UpstreamNonFree Antifeature.
The proprietary module (now long removed) is among the reasons the iceweasel project was born (not the debian one but the GNU one that has been renamed icecat when debian took over the iceweasel name).
It is a known fact that for years 90% or more of mozilla money came from google in exchange for making its search engine the default including tracking through an additional parameter in the URL.
There is waterfox a project to build a firefox version free of the mozilla tracking and crap: https://www.waterfoxproject.org/
Disabled Encrypted Media Extensions (EME)
Disabled Web Runtime (deprecated as of 2015)
Removed Pocket
Removed Telemetry
Removed data collection
Removed startup profiling
Allow running of all 64-Bit NPAPI plugins
Allow running of unsigned extensions
Removal of Sponsored Tiles on New Tab Page
Addition of Duplicate Tab option
Locale selector in about:preferences > General
There used to be a collection of privacy patches to remove all the tracking, leaking and privacy issues but I can't find it through web search, it seems to have been replaced by https://github.com/williex/firefox-privacy
Mozilla insist it is health report, analytics and telemetry which is marketing words for tracking and spying.
Do you have a reference for this? The Wiki page, and the project application, seem just to refer to a desire to avoid non-free plug-ins:
> ALL GNUzilla Programs will basically BE Mozilla Source Builds, with the major exception being the implementation of NO proprietary softwares, including plug-ins, according and adhereing to the GPL.
(http://savannah.gnu.org/task/?4529). That's certainly not inconsistent with what you said, but it seems a stretch to deduce what you said without some other reference.
No, it's not possible.
Mozilla employees and community members are very talented and capable people, but they are not capable for keeping a nefarious secret :) hehe
remember, you can check the source code. You can build your own version. Telemetry helps people. Telemetry helps Mozilla deliver better firefox. STOP SPREADING FUD.
The point is you cant have it both ways, both decrying tracking of users and then actively enaging in it, and agressively defending it when it comes to light.
You have to understand how extremely strict Mozilla is with using third-party services for things like crash reporting and telemetry. It is extremely difficult to find services that meet our very high standard for privacy.
AFAIK Focus and Adjust make no connections to google. Check the source?
The telemetry is documented in detail at https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-android/wiki/Telemet...
We also include Adjust in Focus (not in Klar) for attribution tracking - to understand where the install came from. (This is useful if you are spending money on campaigns and you would like to understand what campaigns are the most effective)
If you have questions or suggestions, check the https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-android/blob/master/... for ways to reach the team.
Recording users' behavior by default with informing the user clearly and giving him the option to opt-out is abhorrent, regardless of the benignity of the reason behind it.
Disclosure: I use firefox, but periodically strip all relevant hidden add-ons and disable all information sending possible.
> Recording users' behavior by default with informing the user clearly and giving him the option to opt-out is abhorrent, regardless of the benignity of the reason behind it.
(Even as a Firefox/Mozilla fan,) I completely agree that this behavior is what Mozilla should follow everywhere. I always choose to enable telemetry for Firefox because I want to help Mozilla and trust it. But defaults need to be sensible and protective of the user, first and foremost. If most people choose to turn it off on first run when asked for, then the actions to be taken would be educating users (in simple language) on the scope of data collection and improving the reputation of the organization/company behind it.