I literally can't log into the Amtrak Android app unless I have Chrome installed. It strictly relies on Chrome custom tabs. Other browsers that support custom tabs don't work.

I cannot imagine any reason for this except sheer ineptitude.

Guess what Amtrak support told me when I reported this as a bug?

A few of us sitting and using Firefox while Google is suggesting being able to control what computer you use, what software is installed, what plugins you are allowed to have?

This is a very big threat not solved by using Firefox.

Your open source browser can run a spoof of an “official” browser

Not if the server requires the digital signature of a challenge to be produced by a key whose certificate is signed by a "trusted" third party, said third party only providing that key at runtime, if your browser can also provide the same kind of authorization from the OS, itself being only able to produce it if it can safely determine that it's running on completely locked-down hardware AND having online-activated DRM tells him he can provide such key; the hardware itself requiring constant online connexion to ensure it's "authorized", and including yet another layer of keys in hardware.

There's been progress toward this kind of things. At every step, people warning about the risks are seen as lunatics. SecureBoot preventing booting a custom kernel? No problem, microsoft will sign your keys. TPM not delivering keys to non-trusted kernels? No problem, just don't use it (and don't get the keys, obviously). UEFI requiring digital signature to be flashed? It's for your safety, but we won't give you the keys or it would defeat the purpose. Embedded CPU inside your CPU running opaque code on every operation you do? Trust me bro, there's no problem here.

Sure, opensource (or even just open at this point) alternative will most likely remain available as a niche, but once all major services that people want requires such a chain of control, the vast majority of people will gladly flock to locked-down system. Heck, it's already happening. Nowadays I can't even log into my bank website without a trusted iOS or Android device. The "free, open" alternative will be rare, expensive, and only work for people that cares. Which is not too much sadly.

Reject modernity, return to Gemini

Okay I wasn't expecting to be attacked like that.

The worse problem is the corruption more than the age.

I think the moment for me was when they had Mark Zuckerberg himself, testify to Congress.

They didn't "grill him" as media would've liked to have you believe. The guy danced around all of Congress because they themselves didn't know a damn thing about what he was saying. Of course he wasn't penalized and got off scot-free.

Just like every other tech company. The FTC, has no teeth. The FCC, has no teeth. Congress, has no brain.

allowing websites to refuse to load unless the browser the operating system running the browser promises that the user isn’t allowed to know what the computer is doing

So they won't support Linux anymore?