Widevine is a system made by Google that streaming platforms (like Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc.) use to lock their videos so only authorized users can view them. It encrypts video streams and requires a license key from a server in order to decrypt and play them.
Security Levels (L1, L2, L3)
- L1: The strongest
Both decryption and video processing happen inside a hardware-protected secure zone (trusted hardware). - L2: Middle level
Some parts (cryptography) use secure hardware, but video rendering may not. - L3: The weakest
Everything is done in software (no special secure hardware). Usually only lower quality playback is allowed.
Why It Matters & Privacy Concerns
- Widevine ensures video content can’t be freely copied or viewed without permission.
- But because it ties to a device’s unique identifiers, it can also be used to track or fingerprint devices.
- Some browsers leak identifying information via Widevine (or EME) APIs.
In Short: Widevine locks video content by encrypting it and only letting devices with the correct license and secure hardware (if needed) decrypt and play it — and it can also reveal device identity through the DRM interfaces.
