Submitted 1 year ago by Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de to technology@lemmy.world
https://9to5google.com/2023/11/02/google-chrome-web-integrity-api/
The Chrome team says they’re not going to pursue Web Integrity but…
it is piloting a new Android WebView Media Integrity API that’s “narrowly scoped, and only targets WebViews embedded in apps.”
They say its because the team “heard your feedback.” I’m sure that’s true, and I can wildly speculate that all the current anti-trust attention was a factor too.
I absolutely do not trust Chrome or the google team. It does not make me feel any better the only barrier to them trying to ruin a internet a bit is some backlash.
The Media Integrity API is something that streaming video services want and applies only to Android apps that are built on web technologies. This has nothing to do with conventional web experiences or even the Chrome browser on Android: it’s effectively a solution for when media is served on webpages that are embedded inside an Android app.
Typically an Android app will use native libraries like ExoPlayer to request and serve DRM content, for instance a video from a paid streaming service to ensure that the viewer is permitted to watch it. Chrome is built on top of open video codecs and doesn’t inherently support DRM in this manner (as far as I’m aware), so if an app developer wants to use web technologies by leveraging a WebView, they are restricted to which codecs and DRM is available.
It’s my understanding that this new library offers a solution to such developers. As a reminder, this doesn’t apply to the web at large.
From my perspective, this is no different than DRM offerings that are supported natively in all operating systems, including Android, iOS, Mac and Windows.
That’s why DRM is bad period. It takes away your power and gives it to a single authority
The difficulty as I’ve understood it, is that this isn’t sustainable for streaming services: if you know how to serve the request, there are no guarantees that the user is licenced to watch it. I’m not especially knowledgeable in this field though, so perhaps there are other solutions that would mitigate concerns around the use of DRM.
Yeah, but they were testing the waters with this one. The hydra’s going to grow another head eventually. It’ll be interesting to see how/if the media integrity API gets leveraged in the Android Chrome browser. They’re eventually going to attack this problem from a slightly different angle.
Good summary. I used to think that apps were soooo much better than web apps, but I’ve gone to realize that frequently the web UI is made intentionally janky to nudge users onto the apps where ads can’t be blocked.
Ads can actually be blocked in apps if you use a VPN that has the ability. Though not all apps will function with a VPN enabled
This is essentially an attempt to further embed Google’s existing dominance. What we need is a serious competitor in the Android space, that can involve a webstore, an api, etc that can provide an alternative force catering to both OEM and consumers alike that stands to challenge Google’s dominance to the OHA alliance.
As a reminder, this doesn’t apply to the web at large.
Every movement has a start.
Dont care all drm should be outlawed
thank FUCK
I wish they did, so chrome could loose some market share
Problem is big sites you're forced to use (banking sites, work HR systems, etc) would've made shitty decisions and required it to use their site. It would be like the old "you have to use IE 6" era
Banking site: We’ve implemented the Web Integrity API because security is important to us. Also the banking site: Your password can only be six characters.
Various state and federal accessibility laws would've made that a very questionable decision for a lot of industries. Given that it would cost money simply to get programmers to implement and might lead to more costs from legal challenges I suspect a lot of sites like banks and the like would've avoided it.
Now when it comes to basically any news site, entertainment service, social media, online store, or anything else that makes extra money on ads and harvesting user data? Oh yeah, they'd implement it in a heartbeat.
Google isn’t processing. Maybe now they’ll realize YouTube is also suffering from their poor decisions.
YouTube isn’t suffering. Lemmy has an active userbase of just over 30K. Given the fact a lot of people have multiple accounts (I do), that’s less than 30K active users.
On top of that, probably less than half of Lemmy users actually cry about YouTube.
Even if we are generous, and say the entirety of Lemmy, and each user is unique, 30K is nothing lol.
One set of standards for the internet systems, and multiple measurements and methods I say, hardly makes sense to split the whole web to pieces over advertising money, especially when access to knowledge, strength, capability to invent and discover of all sorts is now at such an all time high.
We’ve yet to build anything on the moon or create livable spaces in outer space
I’m sure that’s true,
How can you be sure? Are you in their team and are aware of all talks?
There’s this thing called sarcasm. I’m not surprised you didn’t spot it; it’s an advanced skill.
Is there that thing called sarcasm too?
Ha, suck on that!
Victory!
chemicalwonka@discuss.tchncs.de 1 year ago
Web Integrity API proposal is what happens when Big Tech takes over the internet.