4 ms·

Most likely can’t be fixed by an extension and also to the parent poster, Firefox can’t strip this info out because the encoded string (how I read the original

Most likely can’t be fixed by an extension and also to the parent poster, Firefox can’t strip this info out because the encoded string (how I read the original question) includes the actual metadata about what’s to be displayed. Looks like fb won this round.

hdjjhhvvhga 4y ago
I was actually wondering why the big trackers haven't implemented this yet and how much time it will take them to switch. I mean, the tracking part of the URL is so obvious it's just sitting there and asking to be removed. Most tech people do that, also some extensions, and now Firefox. So it was just a question of time.
tyingq 4y ago
At least for now, facebook has an endpoint that converts from new to old. https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=URL_ENCODED_NEW_URL_HERE https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=URL_ENCODED_N... Returns references to the older style url in the returned html. I also noticed it's calling that new style base64 string a "story_token" in places, and uses it in conjunction with "page_token" set to "VICE" in this case.
- wahnfrieden 4y ago
  Thanks for digging this up! Looks like a path forward
  - rvnx 4y ago
    Nit picky but isn't this action actually illegal in some jurisdictions ? For example in France: « Obstructing or distorting the operation of an automated data processing system is punishable by five years' imprisonment and a fine of €150,000. »
    - CRConrad 4y ago
      But fetching data from an http server by giving it a URL is what it's for; how can that be "Obstructing or distorting" it?
    - wahnfrieden 4y ago
      maybe! lots of reasonable anti-capitalist action is illegal. it's good to be aware but nothing to be respectful of
winternett 4y ago
Not true if people just choose to stop or slow their use of Facebook. Most of my friends there are barely active. I never use the app, only desktop with ad blocking, but still, nothing there is really interesting to me, so I'm rarely on FB at all. Across the web I never use it to authenticate, and if a private company asks me for any personal info, it's usually inaccurate info that I enter. I have remembered a fake birth date, fake home address, and other details that I use for all these sites, unless they're related to commerce or legally justified purposes. We do not need to provide accurate info to private companies that mis-use our data (provided it is not required for our own reputational purposes).
- wahnfrieden 4y ago
  the point isn't the one individual service or actor, these behaviors are incentivized and enabled systematically and will repeat
- winternett 4y ago
  Golly is Facebook extremely boring, dull, and utterly a user experience nightmare... I miss all my friend's birthdays frequently because the experience is so undesirable and unenjoyable on it. Twitter is also fast becoming my least favorite thing to use as well because of a habitually botched user experience.

hdjjhhvvhga 4y ago

I was actually wondering why the big trackers haven't implemented this yet and how much time it will take them to switch. I mean, the tracking part of the URL is so obvious it's just sitting there and asking to be removed. Most tech people do that, also some extensions, and now Firefox. So it was just a question of time.

tyingq 4y ago

At least for now, facebook has an endpoint that converts from new to old. https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=URL_ENCODED_NEW_URL_HERE https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=URL_ENCODED_N... Returns references to the older style url in the returned html. I also noticed it's calling that new style base64 string a "story_token" in places, and uses it in conjunction with "page_token" set to "VICE" in this case.

wahnfrieden 4y ago
Thanks for digging this up! Looks like a path forward
- rvnx 4y ago
  Nit picky but isn't this action actually illegal in some jurisdictions ? For example in France: « Obstructing or distorting the operation of an automated data processing system is punishable by five years' imprisonment and a fine of €150,000. »
  - CRConrad 4y ago
    But fetching data from an http server by giving it a URL is what it's for; how can that be "Obstructing or distorting" it?
  - wahnfrieden 4y ago
    maybe! lots of reasonable anti-capitalist action is illegal. it's good to be aware but nothing to be respectful of

winternett 4y ago

Not true if people just choose to stop or slow their use of Facebook. Most of my friends there are barely active. I never use the app, only desktop with ad blocking, but still, nothing there is really interesting to me, so I'm rarely on FB at all. Across the web I never use it to authenticate, and if a private company asks me for any personal info, it's usually inaccurate info that I enter. I have remembered a fake birth date, fake home address, and other details that I use for all these sites, unless they're related to commerce or legally justified purposes. We do not need to provide accurate info to private companies that mis-use our data (provided it is not required for our own reputational purposes).

wahnfrieden 4y ago
the point isn't the one individual service or actor, these behaviors are incentivized and enabled systematically and will repeat
winternett 4y ago
Golly is Facebook extremely boring, dull, and utterly a user experience nightmare... I miss all my friend's birthdays frequently because the experience is so undesirable and unenjoyable on it. Twitter is also fast becoming my least favorite thing to use as well because of a habitually botched user experience.