### **Mozilla Warns DOJ’s Google Antitrust Proposals Could “Put Firefox Out of Business”**
Mozilla, the nonprofit behind the Firefox browser, has warned that the U.S. Justice Department’s proposed antitrust remedies against Google could threaten its survival. During Google’s ongoing monopoly trial, Mozilla CFO Eric Muhlheim testified that losing Google’s default search engine payments—which make up about 85% of Firefox’s revenue—would force “significant cuts across the company” and potentially trigger a “downward spiral” leading to Firefox’s demise. The DOJ’s proposed restrictions include banning Google from paying to be the default search engine in third-party browsers like Firefox, which Mozilla argues would cripple its ability to fund development and compete with Big Tech browsers like Chrome.
### **Firefox’s Financial Dependence on Google Puts Its Future at Risk**
Mozilla relies heavily on its deal with Google, which contributes roughly 90% of its revenue. Without these payments, Muhlheim warned that Mozilla would struggle to maintain Firefox’s competitiveness, potentially driving users away and reducing funding for nonprofit initiatives like open-source web tools and AI-driven climate research. While Mozilla has explored alternatives—such as making Bing the default search engine—tests showed lower revenue and user dissatisfaction. A past switch to Yahoo as Firefox’s default search engine in 2014 led to significant user attrition, demonstrating the risks of moving away from Google.
### **Antitrust Remedies Could Backfire, Strengthening Google’s Dominance**
Ironically, Muhlheim argued that weakening Firefox could reinforce Google’s monopoly by eliminating one of the few independent browser engines (Gecko) not controlled by Big Tech. Unlike Google’s Chromium or Apple’s WebKit, Firefox’s Gecko ensures web interoperability and prevents a single company from dominating internet protocols. While the DOJ’s proposed search engine competition could eventually benefit Firefox, Muhlheim cautioned that Mozilla might not survive the transition period. He acknowledged that diversifying revenue—such as through browser ads, as Opera has done—is a challenge due to Firefox’s privacy-focused model. Ultimately, Mozilla supports user choice but warns that abrupt antitrust measures could have unintended consequences, leaving fewer competitors in the browser market.
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Forrás: https://www.theverge.com/news/660548/firefox-google-search-revenue-share-doj-antitrust-remedies.