Mozilla recently severed ties with its privacy partner, Onerep, citing concerns over the CEO's connections to data brokers. This decision marks the end of the collaboration, which provided assistance to users in locating and removing their exposed personal information from the internet.
Mozilla Firefox 86 now tightens its security through the 'Total Cookie Protection' to fight trackers. (Photo : Screenshot from YouTube/TechAltar)
Ending Partnership with Onerep
Signaling an end to their joint efforts in assisting users to locate and remove personal information exposed online, Mozilla has announced its decision to terminate its collaboration with Onerep. The move comes after revelations that Onerep's CEO has affiliations with a data brokerage firm.
A detailed investigation by Krebs on Security revealed that Dimitri Shelest, CEO of Onerep, has been involved in launching numerous people-search websites over several years.
Shelest acknowledged his ownership stake in Nuwber, a platform allowing users to search for individuals using various criteria such as name, phone number, address, or email. Despite this, Shelest clarified that there is no sharing of information between Nuwber and Onerep.
Shelest acknowledged the potential perception of his affiliation with a people search business but emphasized its role in enhancing Onerep's technological capabilities. He recognized the need for clearer communication regarding this association and pledged to improve transparency moving forward.
Brandon Borrman, Mozilla's vice president of communications, emphasized that while customer data remained secure, the external financial interests and activities of Onerep's CEO conflicted with Mozilla's values.
In February, Mozilla integrated Onerep's data removal service into its Monitor Plus subscription, priced at $8.99 per month. This service enabled users to identify and request the removal of their personal data from various websites, facilitated through Mozilla's partnership with Onerep.
After Shelest's statement, Mozilla has opted to terminate its brief collaboration with Onerep. The Verge reported that Borrman mentioned that they are currently formulating a transition strategy to ensure customers experience minimal disruption, prioritizing their interests throughout the process.
However, Mozilla has not yet clarified whether they intend to seek a new partner to replace Onerep or if they will cease the service entirely..
Navigating Ties to Data Brokerage
Shelest has been involved in the creation of numerous people-search services dating back to 2010. Among these ventures is Nuwber, a data broker that Shelest established in 2015, which continues to operate and offers background reports on individual
However, on March 21, Shelest issued a comprehensive statement wherein he acknowledged his ownership stake in Nuwber, which was founded around the same time as Onerep.
He clarified that Nuwber operates independently of Onerep and emphasized that there is no sharing of information between the two platforms. Shelest also addressed any past associations with domains linked to his name, asserting that they are no longer under his management.
Reflecting on his involvement in the people search business, Shelest acknowledged that it might raise eyebrows externally. He explained that his experience with such ventures has contributed to Onerep's technological advancements and skilled team.
Nonetheless, he conceded that past communication regarding these affiliations may have been unclear and expressed his commitment to improving transparency moving forward.
