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Why is EME (Widevine) in Fennec disabled by default?

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We are developing a video on demand platform, and would like to enable users to stream videos even on Android. As it is a paid Hollywood content, the streams have to have a DRM protection. But while Chrome Mobile simply asks for consent to play protected content, Firefox on Android just simply does not play it, even though all tickets in bugzilla regarding Widevine / EME has been fixed. As I've later found out, Fennec can actually play Widewine protected content without any issues, but you have to go to about:config and set to true flag 'media.eme.enabled'. Now the problem is we can't of course force regular users to go hunting flags in about:config.. So why there cannot be some consent popup or e.g. toggle in regular UI like in Settings - Advanced to switch EME on?

Thanks.
We are developing a video on demand platform, and would like to enable users to stream videos even on Android. As it is a paid Hollywood content, the streams have to have a DRM protection. But while Chrome Mobile simply asks for consent to play protected content, Firefox on Android just simply does not play it, even though all tickets in bugzilla regarding Widevine / EME has been fixed. As I've later found out, Fennec can actually play Widewine protected content without any issues, but you have to go to about:config and set to true flag 'media.eme.enabled'. Now the problem is we can't of course force regular users to go hunting flags in about:config.. So why there cannot be some consent popup or e.g. toggle in regular UI like in Settings - Advanced to switch EME on? Thanks.

All Replies (1)

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Sorry, support volunteers generally can't answer "why" questions any better than you can!

I suggest filing a bug proposing that the preference be set to true on versions of Android where that is supported and see what kind of response you get.