I've set DRM to require explicit approval in the browser, and I've seen random web sites that have no obvious reason to do so randomly request the permission.
I don't know what exactly causes this, since it's intermittent (the same web site doesn't always do it) and happens even with various ad and tracking blockers in place.
That's more of a double-edged sword hack than "using DRM". The theory of DRM is for the system to restrict the content from the user, i.e. the system is adversarial to the user and vice versa.
What Signal is doing is trying to get the system to restrict the content from the rest of the system. Which might work as a transient hack but doesn't actually work to protect the user when the system is adversarial, because Microsoft (the adversary) has the DRM private keys. Even some hypothetical DRM system which is effective in oppressing the user wouldn't prevent Microsoft from purloining the user's data whenever they want because they're the ones who make the DRM.
Microsoft cant and will not break that trust, because then Netflix and others will stop serving content to Microsoft products.
This is similar to HTTPS certificate chain of trust. The root signing authority needs to be trusted, but once you break that trust there's no going back. It is a self-regulating system.
"Used" is a strong term, they're not really utilizing the DRM codepaths, AFAIK it simply tells the OS that the window is software that does use DRM and thus should be excluded from any screenshots. The existence of DRM and desire of Windows to abide by its rules are what Signal relies on.
No, simpler software is not accepted by the general public. For a few years Firefox rejected EME/Widevine. When Netflix does not work then they will just use a browser that works.
NB. I am a member of the "general public". I use simpler software. For example, I do not use a so-called "modern" web browser with DRM supoort in order to read, submit and reply on HN. Nor do I use a more complex program to download video files. I may use a more complex program to edit, convert and play video files, such as ffmpeg/ffplay, although unlike a so-called "modern" web browser ffmpeg is not controlled and "automatically updated" by an surveillance advertising company or financially depedant on one, sending it data about users in return for money.
Although being too young to be really have seen gopher, i can still remember the (comparatively) simple "Internet" from mid to late 90s.
IRC for chatting, ICQ for instant messaging (which didn't work because my ISP at that time used a strange firewall / proxy setup and IRQ wasn't able to get through), newsgroups as a kind of discussion board, picture viewers for all kind of image formats (like wise video players), real player (Buffering...:D) for streaming....and most importantly web browser(s) when you want to grab information from all around the world (but dang having only a 33.6kbit modem, was really a test of patience sometimes).
Oh! I forgot! WinAmp which can whip the llama's...yeah you surely know what it does whip! ;)
I'm curious what are those use-cases where you really need it?
I have DRM disabled since forever and never experience any problems that I can relate to that.
Same here. For one interim pragmatic purpose, I do have a dedicated setup that has DRM, which I use only for that purpose. I hope to get rid of the nasty DRM altogether in the future.
(For the browser part of the DRM setup, I use Chrome/Chromium, the violate-me-all-the-ways browser. For all other browser purposes, I use both Firefox, the violate-me-fewer-ways browser, and Tor Browser, the draw-fire-of-state-actors-but-thwart-techbro-actors browser.)
They "caved" because it's a browser for humans and lots of humans stream TV. I don't miss the daily "how can I watch Netflix on Ubuntu?" posts in different communities. Users can disable Widevine in FF.
In this day and age I dont understand why there isnt a more successful fork of firefox or a new opensource browser thats more succesful with privacy as a concern. My only speculation is collective lazyness and lack of sex appeal as new technologies have emerged. I’m probably biased as I lived through the browser wars. I guess I’m probably projecting combined with curiosity. I know most of the old greybeards have moved on and those of us left are stuck carrying the torch, but man it sure seems the culture has been eroded significantly. Case in point back in my day it seemed like there was a new browser every few months or so. I’m done ranting, I’ve got kids to yell at to get off my lawn.
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I don't know what exactly causes this, since it's intermittent (the same web site doesn't always do it) and happens even with various ad and tracking blockers in place.
browser.eme.ui.enabled = false
media.eme.enabled = false
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[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44053364
What Signal is doing is trying to get the system to restrict the content from the rest of the system. Which might work as a transient hack but doesn't actually work to protect the user when the system is adversarial, because Microsoft (the adversary) has the DRM private keys. Even some hypothetical DRM system which is effective in oppressing the user wouldn't prevent Microsoft from purloining the user's data whenever they want because they're the ones who make the DRM.
This is similar to HTTPS certificate chain of trust. The root signing authority needs to be trusted, but once you break that trust there's no going back. It is a self-regulating system.
Let's be clear here. That's a fine point in the generic sense, but in the Signal situation there are no private keys and it's not really DRM.
Simpler software could satisfy web users.
Could reduce potential for surveillance and annoying distractions. Easier to audit and control.
IRC for chatting, ICQ for instant messaging (which didn't work because my ISP at that time used a strange firewall / proxy setup and IRQ wasn't able to get through), newsgroups as a kind of discussion board, picture viewers for all kind of image formats (like wise video players), real player (Buffering...:D) for streaming....and most importantly web browser(s) when you want to grab information from all around the world (but dang having only a 33.6kbit modem, was really a test of patience sometimes).
Oh! I forgot! WinAmp which can whip the llama's...yeah you surely know what it does whip! ;)
(For the browser part of the DRM setup, I use Chrome/Chromium, the violate-me-all-the-ways browser. For all other browser purposes, I use both Firefox, the violate-me-fewer-ways browser, and Tor Browser, the draw-fire-of-state-actors-but-thwart-techbro-actors browser.)
To get the content from a different source in a more user-friendly format, right?
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