Mozilla, known for advocating online privacy, continues promoting the data removal service Onerep, despite earlier concerns over its founder’s involvement in controversial people-search businesses. Mozilla initially partnered with Onerep in 2018, bundling it within their Mozilla Monitor Plus subscription, a service designed to inform Firefox users about data breaches.
Concerns Surrounding Onerep’s Founder and Data Transparency
The partnership attracted scrutiny when cybersecurity outlet KrebsOn Security revealed Onerep’s founder, Dimitri Shelest, had created multiple data broker companies, notably Nuwber. Shelest launched Nuwber around the same time he founded Onerep, a revelation that seemingly contradicts Onerep’s mission statement emphasizing personal data security.
Shelest issued a detailed statement acknowledging his ties to Nuwber but insisted there’s no overlap in operations between his businesses. He justified the connection, suggesting that his experience in the people-search industry enabled Onerep’s technological advancement. Shelest admitted the transparency issue, pledging improved clarity moving forward.
Mozilla’s Delayed Response and Ongoing Evaluation
Following public backlash, Mozilla announced plans to discontinue its relationship with Onerep. However, nearly a year later, Mozilla still actively promotes Onerep to Firefox users. Mozilla cited ongoing challenges in finding an alternative provider that aligns closely with their values and meets technical standards.
“The search continues, but finding a suitable partner who matches our values and offers technical excellence is taking longer than anticipated,” Mozilla stated in October 2024. They reassured users that their data remained safe, emphasizing the ongoing evaluation process to replace Onerep.
Broader Implications and Links to Problematic Services
Complicating matters further, Onerep appears linked to Radaris, another controversial people-search service notorious for disregarding opt-out requests. KrebsOn Security uncovered Radaris’ problematic history, highlighting its Russian founders who had constructed expansive consumer data networks. Radaris even promoted Onerep in correspondence with users attempting to remove their personal information.
Mozilla maintains that customer security remains unaffected, and the partnership continues purely out of necessity, as they evaluate alternative providers. Nonetheless, Mozilla’s prolonged partnership with Onerep raises broader questions about the personal data removal industry’s integrity and transparency.
