{"id":114347,"date":"2024-03-16T00:25:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T22:25:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/blog\/novosti-interneta\/mozilla-zakryvaet-obshhedostupnyj-servis-opredeleniya-mestopolozheniya"},"modified":"2024-03-16T00:25:45","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T22:25:45","slug":"mozilla-zakryvaet-obshhedostupnyj-servis-opredeleniya-mestopolozheniya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/en\/blog\/news\/mozilla-zakryvaet-obshhedostupnyj-servis-opredeleniya-mestopolozheniya","title":{"rendered":"Mozilla is shutting down its public location service","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
Mozilla announced its decision to close the MLS (Mozilla Location Service) project, which has been developing a public service for determining geographical location since 2013, based on information from known Wi-Fi access points (linked to BSSID\/MAC), mobile operator base stations (linked to Cell-ID), and IP addresses issued to users (GeoIP). The service allowed users to determine an approximate location on a map without the use of satellite navigation systems like GPS and GLONASS. <\/p>\n
Since 2019, the service's capabilities have been limited due to accusations of patent infringement by Skyhook Holdings and the conclusion of an out-of-court agreement, under which Mozilla set a limit of 100,000 API requests per day for commercial projects. These restrictions led to the Sailfish project abandoning the use of MLS and caused a decline in MLS's investment attractiveness in Mozilla's eyes. Meanwhile, MLS continued to be used in the microG project and many alternative Android firmware instead of the proprietary Google Network Location service. <\/p>\n
The reason cited for winding down the project is the ongoing trend of decreasing accuracy in location determination in MLS combined with the lack of desire to increase investments or revive the MozStumbler program. The database linking coordinates to base stations and Wi-Fi networks was replenished thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts who installed the MozStumbler mobile application on their smartphones. <\/p>\n
The MozStumbler app was linked to the stumbler service, which was part of the old Firefox for Android up to version 69, before being replaced in 2020 by a new mobile edition of the browser developed under the code name Fenix. In early 2021, the development of MozStumbler was halted, and the app was never adapted for Android 10 and newer platform versions. Currently, the influx of new data into the MLS database has almost ceased, and the relevance of the information leaves much to be desired. <\/p>\n
A phased shutdown plan for the service has been proposed: <\/p>\n
\n
Starting March 13, the issuance of new access keys to the API will cease.\n
On March 27, the acceptance of POST requests via the API will be discontinued, and the publication of new database dumps for export to other systems will also stop.\n
On April 10, all previously published database dumps will be deleted and will no longer be available for download.\n
On June 12, all access keys to the API will be deleted, except for the keys used in Mozilla projects.\n
On July 31, the code repository for the platform will be moved to GitHub in archived mode. For those who wish to revive the service and maintain it independently, the source code of the Mozilla Ichnaea platform, which underpins MLS, will remain available under the Apache License 2.0. <\/ul>\n