EFF Makes Formal Objection to DRM in HTML5
I am no fan of FLASH, the backbone of sites like YOUTUBE, and virtually any video stream site on the web (I personally do not use YOUTUBE or stream movie trailers for this very reason, my dislike of Flash. I prefer downloading what I choose to watch, preferably in open-souce format, over streaming anything), however its replacement HTML5 is even worse.
HTML5 is designed to the specification and needs of an increasingly troubling lobbying block, the movie and entertainment studios.
Now more than ever the same industry that lobbied to get DVD infringement to carry a heavier penalty than battery or rape (those oh so unobtrusive FBI warnings :)), wants safeguards on what you watch and see and access.
In addition to the idiocy that is ‘Cloud’ computing, and DRM, they combine both concepts in HTML5.
HTML5 has its good points. It gives you ease of use in accessing media, without doubt, however you pay for ease of use in accessing media, in loss of privacy and erosion of the rights of self.
The price HTML5 wants for ease of use… is too high.
HTML5 makes your browser of choice, Firefox, Explorer, Chrome, Opera, etc in truly fundamental ways no longer an avenue for spy-ware, but rather spy-ware itself.
But spy-ware used by oligarchies with the money to make legal, what if an individual did it… we would call criminal.
If like me you don’t believe corporations should be above the law, or greater than an individuals right to privacy you may want to join the EFF in opposing the new HTML5.
And if you want to surf with a bit of security and choice then
1/ disable javascript unless you specifically need it for a known and trusted site, bank, database, etc
and
2/ Disable HTML5 from auto-playing media in your browser. Here are the Firefox instructions.
Hope the above helps. And don’t forget join the EFF and help them… help you.
Heroic Times 