Whenever people hear the word “Mozilla” the first thing that comes into their mind is the open-source web browser Firefox. Nothing is wrong with that as it simply proves the effectiveness of the Firefox brand. But, the organization is more than just a brand as it is committed to promoting a free and open web for everyone, not just for the benefit of corporate interests.
It is not surprising that many may not know Mozilla as a non-profit organization that advocates for an open and accessible internet (many think of it as a corporate entity, just like other big names in the tech industry). Mozilla develops and maintains a variety of open-source software projects, including the popular Firefox web browser, and the Thunderbird email client. In addition, Mozilla supports various initiatives and programs that aim to promote digital literacy, online privacy, and security.
Mozilla is actively involved in advocating for policies that protect user rights and preserve a free and open internet. This includes fighting against the use of surveillance technologies and pushing for net neutrality regulations.
History of Mozilla
Initially created in 1998 by the Netscape Communications Corporation to develop the Netscape Navigator web browser, Mozilla had become one of the most popular web browsers in the early days of the internet.
In that same year, Netscape decided to release the source code of the Netscape Navigator browser under an open source license, which led to the creation of the Mozilla project tasked with developing a new web browser based on the open source code.
The Mozilla project was initially led by Netscape employee Jamie Zawinski, who was responsible for managing the development of the new browser, which was eventually named “Mozilla”. The first version of Mozilla was released in 2002, and it was based on the Gecko layout engine, which had been developed by Netscape.
In 2003, the Mozilla Foundation was created as a non-profit organization to oversee the development of the Mozilla project. The Mozilla Foundation was created with the goal of promoting openness, innovation, and participation on the web. The Foundation has since become a major force in the development of open source software, and it has expanded its focus beyond web browsers to include email clients, web development tools, and other software projects.
One of the most significant developments in the history of Mozilla was the release of the Firefox web browser in 2004. Firefox was based on the Mozilla codebase, but it was designed to be faster and more customizable than its predecessor. Firefox quickly gained popularity, and it has since become one of the most widely used web browsers in the world.
An Army of Awesome Volunteers
Mozilla is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on the contributions of volunteers to develop its software and support its mission. Mozilla volunteers (called Mozillians) come from all over the world, and they contribute their time and expertise in a variety of ways — both technical and non-technical.
One of the most common ways that volunteers contribute to Mozilla is by participating in software development. Mozilla’s software is open source, which means that anyone can contribute code and other resources to the project. Volunteers who are skilled in programming, web development, or other technical fields can contribute their expertise by submitting code, fixing bugs, and helping to develop new features for Mozilla’s software.
In addition to software development, Mozilla volunteers also contribute to the organization in a variety of other ways. For example, volunteers can help with marketing and outreach by promoting Mozilla’s software and mission on social media or at events. They can also provide support to other users by answering questions and troubleshooting problems in forums or on social media.
Mozilla’s Army of Awesome was a social media initiative that was launched in 2010. The initiative was designed to encourage Firefox users to help other users by answering questions and providing support on Twitter. The program was launched in response to the growing popularity of Twitter, and the increasing number of users who were turning to social media for help with technical issues.
The Army of Awesome was made up of a team of volunteers who were trained to provide support on Twitter. The volunteers were provided with a set of guidelines to follow, and they were instructed to focus on providing helpful and friendly support to Firefox users. The program was open to anyone who wanted to volunteer, and it quickly attracted a large number of participants from all over the world. It is now known as the Mozilla Social Support team.
Mozilla volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and the organization encourages diversity and inclusion in its volunteer community. Mozilla provides a variety of resources to help volunteers get involved, including training and support materials, online forums and chat rooms, and opportunities to participate in events and conferences.
Mozilla in the Philippines
Mozilla’s presence in the Philippines dates back to 2009, and the organization has been involved in a variety of initiatives to promote open source software and support the development of the local technology community.
One of the most notable Mozilla initiatives in the Philippines is the Mozilla Community Space Manila, which is a physical space located in the heart of the city that is dedicated to promoting open source software and technology education. The space hosted a variety of events, workshops, and meetups, and it provided a venue for local technology enthusiasts to collaborate and share their knowledge.
Mozilla has also been active in promoting online privacy and security in the Philippines. The organization has developed a variety of tools and resources to help internet users protect their privacy and stay safe online, and it has worked to raise awareness about the importance of online privacy and security in the country. Through its various initiatives, Mozilla has helped to support the development of the local technology community and to promote a more open and inclusive internet in the Philippines.
In 2019, Mozilla released the Tagalog version of Firefox called “Firefox Tagalog”. It is a crowdsourced localized version of the popular web browser that is specifically tailored to meet the needs of Tagalog-speaking users. Firefox Tagalog includes a Tagalog language interface, which means that all menus, options, and dialog boxes are presented in the vernacular. This makes it easier for Tagalog-speaking users to navigate and use the browser.
The release of a localized version of Firefox is part of Mozilla’s broader effort to make the internet more accessible and inclusive for people around the world. By offering localized versions of the web browser in a variety of languages, the organization is helping to ensure that people from different linguistic backgrounds can access and use the web on their own terms.
At present, the Mozilla Philippines Community (MozillaPH) is working to release the Cebuano and Hiligaynon versions of Firefox for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The local Mozilla organization also conducts its virtual meetups every last Saturday of the month.
Mozilla & Trustworthy AI
Mozilla has been actively involved in promoting ethical and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) practices. The non-profit organization believes that AI has the potential to improve people’s lives in many ways, but that it also poses significant risks if not developed and used responsibly.
To promote trustworthy AI, Mozilla started the development of a set of guidelines called the “Mozilla AI Principles.” These principles are designed to promote the development of AI that is transparent, accountable, and human-centric. The principles cover a wide range of topics, including transparency, privacy, bias, and fairness.
In addition to the Mozilla AI Principles, Mozilla has also developed a variety of tools and resources to help developers and organizations implement ethical AI practices. For example, the organization has developed an AI ethics checklist, which is designed to help organizations ensure that their AI systems are developed and used responsibly. Mozilla has also developed a framework for auditing AI systems to identify and address potential ethical issues.
Mozilla has also been involved in a variety of initiatives to promote trustworthy AI more broadly. For example, the organization has worked with other stakeholders to develop international standards and guidelines for ethical AI, and it has been involved in efforts to raise awareness about the risks and benefits of AI.
In 2017, the organization launched Mozilla Common Voice — an open-source project aimed at creating a free and publicly available database of human voices that can be used to train machine learning models for speech recognition and synthesis.
Common Voice collects voice data from a diverse range of people speaking in various languages, accents, and dialects, in order to improve the accuracy and inclusivity of speech technologies. The data collected through this project is freely available for anyone to use, with the goal of democratizing access to speech technology and reducing the dominance of large tech companies in this space.
Common Voice consists of two main components: a website where people can record and donate their voices, and a dataset of recorded voices that can be downloaded and used for research and development purposes. As of March 2023, the project has collected over 13,000 hours of voice data in 81 different languages, making it one of the largest publicly available voice datasets in the world.
Mozilla on Immersive Technologies
It may not be known to many, but Mozilla has been involved in immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), for many years. The organization believes that immersive technologies have the potential to transform the way we interact with digital content and that they can be used to create new and innovative experiences.
One of Mozilla’s most notable immersive technology initiatives is the WebVR platform. WebVR is an open standard that allows developers to create immersive VR experiences that can be accessed directly through a web browser. By making VR content accessible through the web, Mozilla aims to make immersive technology more widely available and accessible to users.
In addition to WebVR, Mozilla has also developed a variety of other immersive technology tools and resources. For example, the organization has developed A-Frame, an open source framework for building VR experiences on the web. Mozilla has also developed Firefox Reality, a web browser specifically designed for VR and AR devices.
Mozilla has also been involved in a variety of initiatives to promote the development of ethical and responsible immersive technology. The organization has developed a set of guidelines for responsible VR development, which cover topics such as privacy, accessibility, and content moderation.
Mozilla’s work in immersive technologies reflects the organization’s commitment to promoting an open and inclusive internet that is accessible to all. By developing tools and resources for immersive technology development, and by promoting ethical and responsible practices in the field, Mozilla is helping to ensure that immersive technology is developed and used in ways that benefit society as a whole.
Mozilla’s Impact Venture Fund
The Mozilla Corporation operates the Mozilla Open Source Support (MOSS) program, which includes a component called the Mozilla Impact Venture Fund. The US$35M Impact Venture Fund is a program that provides funding and support to startups that are developing innovative solutions in the areas of privacy, security, and decentralization.
This venture capital fund aims to support the development of technology solutions that align with Mozilla’s mission to promote an open and accessible internet. Mozilla Ventures can provide seed funding to startups that are working on projects related to privacy, security, or decentralization, and it also provides access to mentorship, networking opportunities, and other resources.
One of the key goals of this impact venture fund is to support startups that are working on projects that have the potential to benefit society as a whole. The fund seeks out startups that are developing innovative solutions to pressing social problems, and it provides them with the resources they need to bring their ideas to life.
How to Be Involved with Mozilla?
Mozilla is a mission-driven organization that is committed to making the internet a more open, accessible, and secure place for all users. To join the Mozilla organization in the Philippines, simply point your web browser to https://join.mozillaph.org (yes, even non-techies are very much welcome to volunteer). You may also join the online discussions via https://discourse.mozilla.org and live chat via https://chat.mozilla.org.