Thanks for working to remove this non-standard WebView-only behavior, I agree it's a privacy issue. I assume this is an "Intent to Deprecate and Remove <https://www.chromium.org/blink/launching-features/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIntent%20to%20Deprecate%20and%20Remove%E2%80%9D>" looking for permission to remove this behavior (not just mark it 'deprecated'), is that right?
If so, LGTM1. There may still be some compat and developer messaging risks, but the WebView team (of which Peter is a member) are the right experts to navigate those. On Mon, Dec 19, 2022 at 5:18 AM 'Peter Birk Pakkenberg' via blink-dev < [email protected]> wrote: > Contact emails > > [email protected] > > Explainer > > None > > Specification > > Summary > > Removes the default X-Requested-With header from HTTP requests made by > WebView. > > The X-Requested-With header is set by WebView, with the package name of > the embedding apk as the value. > > This use of the header will be discontinued. > > > Blink component > > Mobile>WebView > <https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/list?q=component:Mobile%3EWebView> > > Motivation > > The header as implemented in WebView does not follow the principle of > meaningful consent of all parties exchanging the information[1]. Developer > can utilize unreliable and undocumented methods to opt-out. > > Users are not provided with an opt-out option. The content owner is the > only party with full control over the information provided in the header. > > APK name is also an abundant source of passive fingerprinting information > about the users. It contains specific information about the browsing > context. When the application is not omnipresent (i.e. has a relatively > small user base), together with other information (e.g. approx. geolocation > based on an IP address), it can provide a fairly unique identifier of a > user. > > On top of those privacy issues, the header is undocumented, used in > non-WebView context for a completely different purpose, notoriously > misunderstood, and causing security issues since its introduction. > > [1]: https://w3ctag.github.io/design-principles/#consent > > > > Initial public proposal > > Search tags > > Headers <https://chromestatus.com/features#tags:Headers> > > TAG review > > TAG review status > > Not applicable > > Risks > > Interoperability and Compatibility > > Gecko: N/A > > WebKit: N/A > > Web developers: No signals > > Other signals: > > WebView application risks > > Does this intent deprecate or change behavior of existing APIs, such that > it has potentially high risk for Android WebView-based applications? > > This feature removes a header sent by default by WebView. It should have > no direct impact on applications using WebViews, but sites loaded in the > WebView will no longer receive the X-Requested-With header unless the app > explicitly allowlist the site[1] to receive the header or the site > participates in the deprecation trial. > > [1]: > https://developer.android.com/reference/androidx/webkit/WebSettingsCompat#setRequestedWithHeaderOriginAllowList(android.webkit.WebSettings,java.util.Set%3Cjava.lang.String%3E) > > > Debuggability > > Is this feature fully tested by web-platform-tests > <https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/docs/testing/web_platform_tests.md> > ? > > No > > Flag name > > WebViewXRequestedWithHeaderControl > > Requires code in //chrome? > > False > > Tracking bug > > https://crbug.com/960720 > > Launch bug > > https://launch.corp.google.com/launch/4136516 > > Estimated milestones > > DevTrial on Android > > 109 > > OriginTrial webView first > > 110 > > > > Link to entry on the Chrome Platform Status > > https://chromestatus.com/feature/5160086884843520 > > This intent message was generated by Chrome Platform Status > <https://chromestatus.com/>. > > > Sincerely, > [image: Google Logo] > Peter Birk Pakkenberg > Software Engineer > [email protected] > +447469379358 <+44%207469%20379358> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "blink-dev" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/d/msgid/blink-dev/CACvTYjv0PC76S%3DZkg66V_KCPfrb3tAnryWGnA6TfQz-ay2yXKA%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/d/msgid/blink-dev/CACvTYjv0PC76S%3DZkg66V_KCPfrb3tAnryWGnA6TfQz-ay2yXKA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "blink-dev" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/d/msgid/blink-dev/CAFUtAY-PnDQUwQV9n7LjGygwLvYM9AesJGv6BUiGimdkLyCXmA%40mail.gmail.com.
