-
Tor Browser’s new alpha release removes all Mozilla AI integrations, labeling them “inherently un-auditable.”
-
The team’s cutting out all the Firefox branding and extras to make Tor feel more independent and laser-focused on privacy.
-
While almost every other browser is busy cramming in AI tools, Tor’s basically refusing to jump on the bandwagon.
The Tor Project is taking a stand against the AI craze. Its latest browser release removes all of Mozilla’s new AI features.
This bold move prioritizes user privacy and auditability. The team calls modern machine learning systems a security black box.
Tor’s Latest Alpha Release Draws a Hard Line
Tor just dropped their newest alpha version 15.0a4. Everyone who knows Tor knows it’s all about privacy. In this decisive move, it has removed all AI features that Mozilla recently added. The team said these machine learning systems pose a privacy risk and are “inherently un-auditable” when it comes to security.
One of the Tor project contributors, @henry, elaborated on the decision – he noted the team cannot audit the “black box” behavior of AI models. They, therefore, want to avoid promoting such systems, so they removed every trace of those features from the browser.
A Clean Break from Firefox Branding
The purge goes beyond just artificial intelligence – the Tor team is systematically removing Mozilla-specific branding. This includes features like Firefox Home and the new History Sidebar; even the cute fox graphics have been taken out.
The project made the new policy clear in a blog post. It stated, “As of this release, there should not be any more Firefox or Mozilla-specific branding, features, or service integrations accessible in Tor Browser.” This will create a distinct identity for Tor Browser and separate it further from its Firefox roots.
The Privacy Problem with Built-In AI
Although the Tor team did not list every removed feature, online discussions point to a likely candidate. A prime suspect is the AI chatbot integration sidebar in Firefox that allows easy access to tools like Gemini and the likes of it.
Reddit users speculate this was a key removal. One user explained the logic – they said, “Removing it makes sense since it communicates with the cloud.” This external communication presents a potential privacy issue even though a user must actively log in to use it.
This action highlights a fundamental tension. Browser companies are racing to join the trend of integrating flashy AI tools. Meanwhile, the Tor Project is running in the opposite direction. As always, the project is prioritizing transparent, auditable code above everything else. Sure, they know that some users might want to accept the risk of a “local black box.” But for their main audience, the potential for data leakage is far too great a risk.
Tor’s Continued Commitment to Hardening Privacy
This isn’t the first time Tor Browser has trimmed features to boost security. They’ve been tweaking and stripping down their Firefox base for years, always trying to cut out anything that could put people at risk.
Earlier versions already shut off telemetry and ditched stuff that could leak personal info or mess with anonymity. Then came the 13.5 update, which made it even tougher for sites to fingerprint users. (In case you’re wondering, fingerprinting is when websites try to figure out who you are just by looking at how your system’s set up.)
You can tell Tor’s not playing when it comes to privacy; they don’t wait for problems to hit – they get ahead of them. The newest alpha keeps that streak going. This time, they’re yanking out complicated, black-box AI systems before those even become standard in the browser.
For people who depend on Tor, that’s a big deal. The browser remains dependable while users can be assured that their privacy and anonymity are protected. Actions like this continue to show why Tor Browser still is the first choice for anyone who values privacy.
