AliExpress runs silent WebAudio fingerprinting that breaks Bluetooth multipoint
A user discovered that AliExpress uses hidden WebAudio API contexts to perform browser fingerprinting, which interferes with Bluetooth multipoint audio functionality. The tracking scripts, identified as collina.js and fireyejs.js, run silently in the background even when no media is playing.
Why it matters
This highlights how aggressive web tracking techniques can negatively impact user hardware performance and accessibility, raising concerns about privacy and intrusive data collection practices.
Recently I ran into a strange problem with my Bluetooth headphones. They support multipoint Bluetooth audio, so they can be connected to my PC and phone at the same time. Normally the PC takes priority playing audio, with my phone being able to play audio when nothing is playing on the PC.
Usually I listen to music on my phone but with notifications or youtrube playing through the PC, this works reliably until I open an AliExpress page in Firefox or Chrome (other browsers untested).
Shortly after loading the AliExpress homepage, audio from my phone would stop playing. Closing the AliExpress tab fixes it immediately. Muting the tab/firefox/Windows does not help, and there is no visible video, music, or other media playing on the page.
This seemed suspicious enough to investigate.
My first thought was an autoplaying product video or advertisement, so I checked for the usual suspects:
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in