Mozilla Firefox is not HIPAA compliant as a standalone web browser, and it is only suitable for HIPAA regulated use when it is kept supported and patched, centrally managed, and used in a technical environment that prevents impermissible uses or disclosures of electronic protected health information.
HIPAA compliance obligations apply to HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates and to the systems and workflows used to create, receive, maintain, or transmit electronic protected health information. A browser can transmit identifiers and interaction data through URLs, referrers, cookies, device signals, extensions, and analytics code embedded in the websites and applications accessed. When that data is tied to an individual and a healthcare context, it can qualify as protected health information and trigger HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Security Rule requirements. Online tracking on regulated entity websites and patient facing applications remains a compliance risk area because tracking technologies can disclose data to third parties without a permitted purpose, a valid authorization, or an applicable Business Associate agreement.
Firefox includes privacy related controls that can reduce some categories of cross site tracking. Firefox implements Global Privacy Control, which sends a browser level signal indicating a user preference not to have personal information sold or shared by a visited website. Global Privacy Control is not a HIPAA control, does not replace HIPAA risk analysis, and does not prevent disclosures that occur through website design, embedded third party scripts, or user installed extensions. Regulated entities should treat Global Privacy Control as a privacy feature that may support broader governance objectives while still applying HIPAA Security Rule safeguards for endpoint configuration and access to electronic protected health information.
HIPAA aligned use of Firefox typically requires managed configuration, controlled extension installation, restricted synchronization features, hardened endpoint settings, and routine patching. Administrative safeguards include workforce training, configuration standards, device inventory, and review of browser settings used in workflows that involve electronic protected health information.
Mozilla does not publish a HIPAA Business Associate agreement for Firefox, and Firefox use does not create a vendor relationship that substitutes for required agreements with services that store or process protected health information on behalf of a regulated entity.