Today “only WebViews embedded in apps”
Tomorrow “YouTube requires an app”
this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2023
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Privacy
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Bye YouTube! It's been real, and it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun.
App? How about a subscription
No need for crazy client side DRM if there a subscription. This is about locking down ad blockers.
They'll just rebrand it, like FLoC became Topics API.
And will quietly release it when the backlash has diminished.
"We heard your feedback. We don't want to hear your feedback."
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."
Nope, I do not believe one single word. They will just wait and try again BS wording it differently.
Since Android Webview is Chromium, this reads to me like it's making it into Chrome anyway.
It's behind some restrictions, but now that it's deployed Google can
- test it in live environments, making sure everything works
- more easily enable it for Chrome proper with fewer to no restrictions
They'll probably do this in the future using a staged rollout similar to what they did for Youtube and adblockers.
The fact that it's making it into production means the only concession Google made was admitting that they know that some of us vocally oppose it.
I'd continue encouraging friends and family to use Firefox.
They'll simply call it Android 15. Market it as a major security standard to make Apple look less safe.
Using FF doesnt solve the Webview issue.
Hmmm. I really hope it's not a bait and switch. I lost all trust.
Chrome is feeling its numbers drop, so they're backing off until people stop paying attention. Then they'll go right ahead with the plan.
Said the same shit about limiting ad blockers. Don't trust em.
Good. Still not switching back from Firefox, though.
... for now.
What does lgtm mean?
Looks good to me. It’s short hand for a code approval.
It seems to me that as more people are fighting or ditching them, google are having to be more and more desperate and controlling to maintain their position. Which in turn leads to yet more people getting fed up with them. I'm not sure they have anywhere else to go tbh. Alternatives to all of their 'services' are constantly becoming more viable and more visible, whilst they are becoming shitter and more hated.
Good, shatter them anyway.
What happened to manifest 3 that was going to limit adblocking? This seems like a temporary setback that they'll introduce all at once in a few months.
wow, they are not completely beyond redemption, it seems
They moved too quickly and the backlash was too intense. They will 100% try to push this shit again as soon as they think the market/userbase might bear it.
100% they will try again, they’ll just be a bit more quiet about, maybe do it once integrity feature at a time.
They moved too fast, and got negative response and backed off on panic. They will rebrand, and try this again but slower. If you care about freedom, start using Firefox or another gecko based browser.
They got cocky, because chrome currently dominates browser market share.
Companies do this on purpose now. Piss people off, slightly roll things back. People will be less angry when they do the exact same thing again.
I don't believe for one second they didn't plan on rolling this back before announcing it.
And because their main competitor depends on them financially.
They have a shit ton of work to do. This does not redeem them at all...
This feels a lot like astroturfing/pandering/propaganda. I've seen this article posted a ton in the last 24 hours...
Redemption implies there was a character to redeem.
It's a business, and it's business is intricately locked into goals that match what Web Integrity API stood for. It may be gone now but everyone needs to watch twice as hard. They'll just try to ease people into the idea more carefully.
people make decisions, not businesses
The number of people involved in the decisions of companies: many of which do not have any actual reason to care about the livelihood, reputation, or ethics of said company...should make it fairly clear that you cannot assume or perceive a company in the same way you do a person.
Most of that's just lobbying PR anyway to give companies more leverage against...well...people