1847035 - MSNBC videos displayed on top of articles can't be played if user has set "Block audio and video" for Autoplay setting

Status: RESOLVED INVALID

(Core :: Audio/Video: Playback, defect)

Description

[Bogdan Maris, Desktop Test Engineering]

Found in

• Firefox 117.0b2

Affected versions

• Firefox 116.0
• Nightly 118.0a1
• Firefox 117.0b2
• Nightly 113.0a1

Tested platforms

• Affected platforms: Windows 10, macOS 13 and Ubuntu 22.04
• Unaffected platforms: none

Preconditions

• Have media.autoplay.default set to 5 or set the Autoplay value to Block Audio and Video from about:preferences#privacy.

Steps to reproduce

1. Visit an article from msnbc.com (eg https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/bernie-sanders-climate-change-justice-department-lawsuit-rcna97622)
2. Play the video

Expected result

• Video can be played

Actual result

• There is no way to play the video while having Block Audio and Video setting on.

Regression range

• I don't think this is a regression, I reproduced it on Firefox 105 as well, I think this is a website issue.

Additional notes

• I think this is a website issue.
• If settings Block Audio and Allow Audio and Video are used the video can be played.

Comment 1

[Calin Tanase]

Attachment: msn video with blocked audio and video.mp4

Verified this issue and its still reproducible on the latest Firefox Nightly. Moved the issue to a more relevant component since it reproduces only with Block Audio and Video enabled.

Environment:
Operating system: Windows 10
Browser: Firefox Nightly 124.0a1 (2024-02-12)

Comment 2

[Andrei Vaida [:avaida]]

Desktop QA has been highlighting this defect as a known issue for several release cycles now, following regression testing. Jim, it would really help us if you set a priority on this bug — it will give us clarity on whether this issue is still worth mentioning in future test reports.

Comment 3

[Alastor Wu [:alwu]]

I don't see this issue on Nightly 129 and Release 127. Even if that happens, it would be website's issue of not being able to handle the situation where the play invocation is blocked. Close this bug.