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Google Takes Down Repositories That Circumvent its Widevine DRM
GitHub has removed several repositories that helped to bypass Google's Widevine DRM, which is used by popular streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon. Google requested the code to be removed as it would violate the DMCA. The company also sent a sensitive data takedown request for the associated RSA key which, ironically, remains easy to find through Google.
[...] The code, originally published by security researcher Tomer Hadad, is a proof-of-concept code Chrome extension that shows how easy it is to bypass the low-security ["L3" version of Widevine Digital Rights Management]. Google was aware of this vulnerability and previously informed Krebs on Security that it would address the issue.
[...] Google sees the code, which was explicitly published for educational purposes only, as a circumvention tool. As such, it allegedly violates section 1201 of the DMCA, an allegation that was also made against the youtube-dl code last month.
[...] This 'key controversy' is reminiscent of an issue that was widely debated thirteen years ago. At the time, a hacker leaked the AACS cryptographic key "09 F9" online which prompted the MPAA and AACS LA to issue DMCA takedown requests to sites where it surfaced.
DMCA: Digital Millennium Copyright Act
DRM: Digital Rights Management
AACS: Advanced Access Content System
MPAA: Motion Picture Association of America
AACS: Advanced Access Content System
AACS LA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AACS_LA
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Sunday November 15 2020, @03:07AM (4 children)
Goog and other tech companies are under investigation for monopolistic conduct, and more. Why does Google choose to exercise their muscle now? Are they so very confident that they can buy off the necessary congress critters and judges?
US Senate: Hey, Goog, you have too much power.
Google: Oh yeah? Look how big a muscle I can make!
US Senate: Thanks for showing us Google. It helps us to understand just how much power you do have!
Google: Yes, yes, we are very proud of our power! And, you're all invited to our campus for hookers and blow!
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 15 2020, @03:19AM
The US Senate wouldn't know Widevine from Weedmilk. And they wouldn't care since they support MAFIAA.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 15 2020, @01:52PM
washington is bought off. ain't shit gonna happen them.
(Score: 2) by rigrig on Sunday November 15 2020, @04:13PM
How about this: Google doesn't like DRM. They just want everybody to use their services.
Right now they need to have DRM, because otherwise the streaming industry would come up with their own scheme and leave Google out of the loop.
So they get to keep their customers happy by sending takedown requests like this, and they really don't care if they push the line far enough for people to actually take another look at the DMCA.
(Which might even keep the politicians happy with Google, as Amazon and Disney might be inclined to donate a bit more during times of trouble like this)
No one remembers the singer.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 15 2020, @11:57PM
If anything, Goog is probably "flexing their muscle" now because they have to kow tow to their new masters the MAFIAA - who has now officially made them their beotch via their paid shills in the government through this "monopolistic conduct".