Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Firefox To Remove UI Dark Pattern From Screenshot Tool After Months of Complaints (zdnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the about-time dept.

After months of user complaints, Mozilla will remove a misleading "dark pattern" from its page screenshot utility. From a report: The problematic feature is the "Save" button that appears when Firefox users take a screenshot. The issue is that the Save button doesn't save the screenshot to the PC, as most users would naturally expect, but uploads the image to a Mozilla server. This is both a privacy violation, as some users don't appreciate being tricked into uploading sensitive images saved on remote servers, but also an incovenience as users would still have to download the image locally, but in multiple steps afterward.

12 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. Well that's just downright suspicious by ZorinLynx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why would anyone want to upload a screenshot to Mozilla's servers? Usually when you take a screenshot it's because you need to use it locally, as in sending the file to someone, or archiving it.

    It seems odd that they'd implement this ability at all; a bit shady even. Surely if you need to upload a screenshot to Mozilla to report a browser bug, it makes more sense to just send the image file you just saved locally.

    1. Re:Well that's just downright suspicious by slack_justyb · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why would anyone want to upload a screenshot to Mozilla's servers?

      This is a torn issue. There's A/B testing that shows there's users wanting to take a screenshot and share it. Mozilla is trying (well actually was trying) their hand at being that person who does the sharing as opposed to say imgur or something. This next part being only my opinion, I have reservations about Mozilla being the share folks, they ought to just stick to the browser but I totally understand some of the rationale behind why they'd want to be in the mix. I don't agree with those opinions but again that is just me speaking here.

      Usually when you take a screenshot it's because you need to use it locally, as in sending the file to someone, or archiving it

      Well, sending it to someone for some users is providing a shorten link to a web address. I get it, that's not everyone, but reading the boards I think I recall them indicating having use case numbers that indicated that some folks are link sharers. I don't know the specific numbers as that's not obviously in any of their notes they post to the blog/maillist/boards.

      It seems odd that they'd implement this ability at all; a bit shady even.

      Again my opinion only, I kind of agree with you there. However, they were (maybe they will in some other incarnation later?) testing out services. What the ultimate goal for services should be pretty obvious, but from mailinglist, I've not heard anything about monetizing services. Again, I don't like it, but I get Mozilla needs cash too. I'll try not to get too political here with things like, "Well if they didn't spend ____ then..." It's mixed bag with me and my opinion here that's worth two cents. So I again, I agree 98% of the way let's say.

      Surely if you need to upload a screenshot to Mozilla to report a browser bug, it makes more sense to just send the image file you just saved locally.

      I don't think the screenshot feature is there to facilitate bug reporting. When it was announced, the feature was mostly there to address some use cases from users.

      I do want to point out that a patch was accepted the same day of the issue being raised on Github. However, there was some A/B testing and some discussion about if ditching the upload function altogether should be the course of action. I think that the end of the Test Pilot program settled the debate, which is the servers that were receiving the images. Again, I just want to make sure you absolutely understand, I agree with you, but I can also see why Mozilla might want to test out services and see what the general feel is for that. I don't think it's been glowing reviews everywhere for any of the Test Pilot programs or at least that's my feel I get having read the mailinglist for the last several months now, but also I caution anyone to take anything I say with a grain of salt. I definitely will welcome Mozilla focusing more on Rust/Firefox than these Test Pilot things.

    2. Re:Well that's just downright suspicious by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 4, Informative

      Here's the thing, though. Since they already have the "take screenshot and upload it on a dedicated server" code in place, all they need is to ask the user when taking a screenshot:

      "Do you want to save this screenshot locally on your device (default choice) or upload it to the Mozilla servers?"

      It looks to me like they don't even need to do that.

      I never even knew that this feature existed (it's hidden under a '...' menu that I've never opened in all these years). So I pulled it up, and I see that there are already two separate buttons: A small "Download" button and a large "Save" button. (The latter has a tiny "cloud" icon in it, which I guess is a subtle clue and/or IQ test.)

      All they really need to do is change the word "Save" to "Upload to cloud", and also change the color and size of the "Download" button to make it equally prominent to the save button. It could be purely styling changes with no change in the code logic.

  2. This will fix that ... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Informative

    Update your "about:config" settings or edit your "user.js" file - problem solved.

    // Disable Firefox Screenshots
    user_pref("extensions.screenshots.disabled", true);
    user_pref("extensions.screenshots.system-disabled", true);
    user_pref("extensions.screenshots.upload-disabled", true);

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:This will fix that ... by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Update your "about:config" settings or edit your "user.js" file - problem solved.

      Well, let' see here, I figure about 1% of Mozilla's users are technically proficient enough to try this, or even be all that aware of the problem or that there might be a fix for it, Of that number, about 1% are going to be able to figure out this incredibly intuitive procedure. Yeah, this solves the problem.

      It's on open display, in an unlit basement with a door marked "Beware of The Leopard", at the bottom of a locked file cabinet. Really, I don't see how there's any problem at all.

  3. "dark pattern" by Dan+East · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Using the term "dark pattern" while discussing a UI design is about the stupidest and confusing thing you could do. I was literally thinking there was some visual element that was dark. How about call it "deceptive", "misleading" or "confusing"? Sheesh. Your job is to write. Take a little pride in your work and think about what your words actually convey.

    --
    Better known as 318230.
    1. Re:"dark pattern" by Presence+Eternal · · Score: 5, Informative

      Dark pattern is the accepted term for deceptive user interfaces and has been for a around a decade. It exists as a bucket term because of the large number of methods used.

    2. Re:"dark pattern" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It's a stupid choice, and is confusing. I agree with Dan East, ANYTHING else would have been better. Some options:

      Evil Pattern
      Manipulative Pattern
      Sucky Pattern
      Theiving Pattern
      Crappy Pattern
      Shitty Pattern
      Lying Pattern

      Why even include "pattern"??? Why not

      Evil UI
      Lying GUI
      Corrupt Design
      Immoral Interfaces

      Seriously, DARK PATTERNS seems almost interesting or a curiousity of emo designers. Not the evil treacherous vile scum shit fuck that it is. Seriously, don't defend this really really shitty choice.

      My paranoia says this label was chosen for the _express_ purpose of diminishing the danger and horrendous effects it has on people.

      Dark patterns can suck it. We need a new phrase.

    3. Re: "dark pattern" by PPH · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Never heard of it before this Slashdot story.

      Nor have I. But I guess we have exposed ourselves as not being 'hip'. The Web is more and more about being hip, not actually getting anything productive done.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    4. Re:"dark pattern" by Paxtez · · Score: 4, Informative

      I've never heard the term either and it is losing relevance.
      It peaked in Nov 2005, it is about 34% as popular now.

      https://trends.google.com/tren...

  4. Mozilla actually listens to complaints? by xack · · Score: 4, Funny

    Laughs in XUL.

  5. Mozilla sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But at least they have a very diverse board and an uncompromising CoC!