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geolocation, location, browser, location-aware, geolocation api

Learn what information Firefox sends to web sites about your location and how to use and manage location-aware features of your browser.

This article explains the location-aware features of Firefox and how to manage permissions for websites that ask you to share your location. __TOC__ =Location-Aware Browsing= Websites that use location-aware browsing will ask where you are located, in order to bring you more relevant information or to save you time while searching. Let’s say you’re looking for a pizza restaurant in your area. A website will be able to ask you to share your location so that simply searching for “pizza” will bring you the answers you need... no further information or extra typing required. Or, if you’re mapping out directions to get somewhere, the website will know where you’re starting from so all you have to do is tell it where you want to go. '''This service is totally optional''' – Firefox doesn’t share your location without your permission – and is done with the utmost respect for your privacy. And, like all elements of Firefox, it’s being created using open standards to ease adoption by Web developers. =How does it work?= When you visit a location-aware website, Firefox will ask you if you want to share your location. [[Image:Fx60AllowLocationAccess]] If you allow location access, Firefox gathers information about nearby wireless access points and your computer’s IP address and sends it to the default geolocation service provider, Google Location Services, to get an estimate of your location. That location estimate is then shared with the requesting website. If you do not allow access, Firefox will not do anything. If you check-mark the box to remember this decision, Firefox will always allow or always block location access for that website, without asking. =What information is being sent, and to whom? How is my privacy protected?= <!--Don't change this section without approval from Legal team--> Your privacy is extremely important to us, and Firefox never shares your location without your permission. When you visit a page that requests your information, you’ll be asked before any information is shared with the requesting website and our third-party service provider. By default, Firefox uses Google Location Services to determine your location by sending: * your computer’s IP address, * information about the nearby wireless access points, and * a random client identifier, which is assigned by Google, that expires every 2 weeks. Google Location Services then returns your estimated geolocation. For a complete description of information collected and used by Google, please see the [https://www.google.com/privacy/lsf.html Google Geolocation Privacy Policy]. The information is exchanged over an encrypted connection to protect your privacy. Once Firefox has your location information, it passes it to the website that requested it. At no time is the name or location of the website you are visiting, or are any cookies, ever shared with Google Location Services. For a complete description of information collected and used by Firefox, please see the [https://www.mozilla.org/privacy/firefox/ Firefox Privacy Notice]. For information about what the requesting website does with your location information, please refer to that website’s privacy policy. =How do I undo a permission granted to a site?= # [[T:optionspreferences]] # Use the [[T:optionsorpreferences]] search box to search for "location". # In the search results under '''Permissions''', click the {button Settings} button to the right of '''Location'''. #;[[Image:preferences-search-results-location]] #*The '''Settings - Location Permissions''' dialog box will open. #; [[Image:Fx60LocationPermissions]] # Review or change the list of sites allowed or denied location permission. =How do I stop all sites from asking to access my location?= If a site indicates to Firefox that it wants to access your location, Firefox asks, by default, whether you want to grant permission. You can set Firefox to automatically deny permission to all websites, without asking. #[[Template:optionspreferences]] # Use the [[T:optionsorpreferences]] search box to search for "location" (or select the {menu Privacy & Security} panel and scroll down to the '''Permissions''' section). # Under '''Permissions''', click the {button Settings…} button to the right of '''Location'''. # In the '''Settings - Location Permissions''' box that opens, check-mark the box next to {menu Block new requests asking to access your location}. # Click {button Save Changes}. This will prevent any websites not already listed in the Location Permissions settings box from requesting permission to access your location. =How can I add support for Geolocation to my web site?= You can integrate Geolocation support into your service by following [https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/API/Geolocation_API the Geolocation API guide at MDN web docs].