Paywall X-ray Chrome Plugin

https://github.com/hacktoolkit/paywall-xray-chrome-extension

by jontsai • 6 years ago

1 4 6 years ago

github.com

jontsai2• 6 years ago

I built a Google Chrome extension that removes the paywall from news websites.

It currently handles nytimes.com, businessinsider.com.

For reasons, I will probably not publishing this in the Chrome webstore. I'm open to requests to add additional sites.

octoberfranklin2• 6 years ago

Dubious DMCA takedown in 5... 4... 3... 2...

jontsai2• 6 years ago

If the news sites want to display a different version of their sites via logged-out experience, that's one thing.

If they are sending the full article HTML to your browser, allowing it to fully display for several seconds, before covering it up with a paywall div/iframes, it should be fair use for you to view what you've already downloaded to your computer.

The plugin simply acts like as a sieve on the client-side to filter the covered-up HTML to the front.

You can already circumvent paywalls by using text-based browsers like Lynx.

That's like if a magazine company sends you a copy of their magazine in the mail. You already got it in the mailbox. And they put on the cover of the magazine: "If you don't agree to subscribing, don't read this and throw it in the trash, or mail it back to us."

Many ISPs have recently started charging for bandwidth usage. I have to pay for the data that I consume. They are forcing me to pay unwillingly for data usage by click-baiting me into wanting to view the article, then displaying the full article for several seconds, then covering it up with HTML divs.

The companies have the technological capabilities based on browser cookie info to send me a redacted version of their site. They should just do that.

octoberfranklin2• 6 years ago

See, you're using reason and logic here. That's your mistake. In practice the DMCA has nothing to do with reason and logic.

Paywall X-ray Chrome Plugin

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