diff --git a/gallery_dl/config.py b/gallery_dl/config.py
index 0f2d1f19..819347da 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/config.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/config.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2015-2021 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2015-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 """Global configuration module"""
 
 import sys
-import json
 import os.path
 import logging
 from . import util
@@ -55,18 +54,18 @@ def load(files=None, strict=False, fmt="json"):
     if fmt == "yaml":
         try:
             import yaml
-            parsefunc = yaml.safe_load
+            load = yaml.safe_load
         except ImportError:
             log.error("Could not import 'yaml' module")
             return
     else:
-        parsefunc = json.load
+        load = util.json_loads
 
     for pathfmt in files or _default_configs:
         path = util.expand_path(pathfmt)
         try:
             with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as file:
-                confdict = parsefunc(file)
+                conf = load(file.read())
         except OSError as exc:
             if strict:
                 log.error(exc)
@@ -77,9 +76,9 @@ def load(files=None, strict=False, fmt="json"):
                 sys.exit(2)
         else:
             if not _config:
-                _config.update(confdict)
+                _config.update(conf)
             else:
-                util.combine_dict(_config, confdict)
+                util.combine_dict(_config, conf)
             _files.append(pathfmt)
 
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/cookies.py b/gallery_dl/cookies.py
index f18cc475..e2a7e484 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/cookies.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/cookies.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 import binascii
 import contextlib
 import ctypes
-import json
 import logging
 import os
 import shutil
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ import tempfile
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from hashlib import pbkdf2_hmac
 from http.cookiejar import Cookie
-from . import aes, text
+from . import aes, text, util
 
 
 SUPPORTED_BROWSERS_CHROMIUM = {
@@ -169,8 +168,8 @@ def _firefox_cookies_database(profile=None, container=None):
             os.path.dirname(path), "containers.json")
 
         try:
-            with open(containers_path) as containers:
-                identities = json.load(containers)["identities"]
+            with open(containers_path) as file:
+                identities = util.json_loads(file.read())["identities"]
         except OSError:
             logger.error("Unable to read Firefox container database at %s",
                          containers_path)
@@ -716,8 +715,8 @@ def _get_windows_v10_key(browser_root):
         logger.error("could not find local state file")
         return None
     logger.debug("Found local state file at '%s'", path)
-    with open(path, encoding="utf8") as f:
-        data = json.load(f)
+    with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as file:
+        data = util.json_loads(file.read())
     try:
         base64_key = data["os_crypt"]["encrypted_key"]
     except KeyError:
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/8muses.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/8muses.py
index fed49913..26ac8b21 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/8muses.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/8muses.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://comics.8muses.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class _8musesAlbumExtractor(Extractor):
@@ -131,7 +130,7 @@ class _8musesAlbumExtractor(Extractor):
 
     @staticmethod
     def _unobfuscate(data):
-        return json.loads("".join([
+        return util.json_loads("".join([
             chr(33 + (ord(c) + 14) % 94) if "!" <= c <= "~" else c
             for c in text.unescape(data.strip("\t\n\r !"))
         ]))
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/bbc.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/bbc.py
index 1b49d6a5..638fedc2 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/bbc.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/bbc.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2021 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2021-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 from .common import GalleryExtractor, Extractor, Message
 from .. import text, util
-import json
 
 BASE_PATTERN = r"(?:https?://)?(?:www\.)?bbc\.co\.uk(/programmes/"
 
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ class BbcGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
     )
 
     def metadata(self, page):
-        data = json.loads(text.extr(
+        data = util.json_loads(text.extr(
             page, '<script type="application/ld+json">', '</script>'))
         return {
             "programme": self.gallery_url.split("/")[4],
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/bcy.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/bcy.py
index 44d60650..d6adb4eb 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/bcy.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/bcy.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2020-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2020-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://bcy.net/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
-import json
+from .. import text, util, exception
 import re
 
 
@@ -100,9 +99,9 @@ class BcyExtractor(Extractor):
                 .replace('\\\\u002F', '/')
                 .replace('\\"', '"'))
         try:
-            return json.loads(data)["detail"]
+            return util.json_loads(data)["detail"]
         except ValueError:
-            return json.loads(data.replace('\\"', '"'))["detail"]
+            return util.json_loads(data.replace('\\"', '"'))["detail"]
 
 
 class BcyUserExtractor(BcyExtractor):
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/behance.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/behance.py
index 6da61752..1469aad9 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/behance.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/behance.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.behance.net/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class BehanceExtractor(Extractor):
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ class BehanceGalleryExtractor(BehanceExtractor):
         }
         page = self.request(url, cookies=cookies).text
 
-        data = json.loads(text.extr(
+        data = util.json_loads(text.extr(
             page, 'id="beconfig-store_state">', '</script>'))
         return self._update(data["project"]["project"])
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/blogger.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/blogger.py
index 8a1a42eb..56010c20 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/blogger.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/blogger.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for Blogger blogs"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 import re
 
 BASE_PATTERN = (
@@ -61,7 +60,7 @@ class BloggerExtractor(Extractor):
                 page = self.request(post["url"]).text
                 for url in findall_video(page):
                     page = self.request(url).text
-                    video_config = json.loads(text.extr(
+                    video_config = util.json_loads(text.extr(
                         page, 'var VIDEO_CONFIG =', '\n'))
                     files.append(max(
                         video_config["streams"],
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/bunkr.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/bunkr.py
index 1c339a9e..250b40a1 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/bunkr.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/bunkr.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://bunkr.ru/"""
 
 from .lolisafe import LolisafeAlbumExtractor
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class BunkrAlbumExtractor(LolisafeAlbumExtractor):
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ class BunkrAlbumExtractor(LolisafeAlbumExtractor):
         root = self.root
 
         try:
-            data = json.loads(text.extr(
+            data = util.json_loads(text.extr(
                 self.request(root + "/a/" + self.album_id).text,
                 'id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">', '<'))
             album = data["props"]["pageProps"]["album"]
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/dynastyscans.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/dynastyscans.py
index d78f25be..59e8c90d 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/dynastyscans.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/dynastyscans.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2015-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2015-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://dynasty-scans.com/"""
 
 from .common import ChapterExtractor, MangaExtractor, Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 import re
 
 BASE_PATTERN = r"(?:https?://)?(?:www\.)?dynasty-scans\.com"
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ class DynastyscansChapterExtractor(DynastyscansBase, ChapterExtractor):
         data = text.extr(page, "var pages = ", ";\n")
         return [
             (self.root + img["image"], None)
-            for img in json.loads(data)
+            for img in util.json_loads(data)
         ]
 
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/fallenangels.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/fallenangels.py
index 57587b60..0503dcfa 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/fallenangels.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/fallenangels.py
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
 # published by the Free Software Foundation.
 
-"""Extract manga-chapters from https://www.fascans.com/"""
+"""Extractors for https://www.fascans.com/"""
 
 from .common import ChapterExtractor, MangaExtractor
 from .. import text, util
-import json
 
 
 class FallenangelsChapterExtractor(ChapterExtractor):
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ class FallenangelsChapterExtractor(ChapterExtractor):
     def images(page):
         return [
             (img["page_image"], None)
-            for img in json.loads(
+            for img in util.json_loads(
                 text.extr(page, "var pages = ", ";")
             )
         ]
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/fantia.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/fantia.py
index 476fdeb2..13dfeada 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/fantia.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/fantia.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://fantia.jp/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class FantiaExtractor(Extractor):
@@ -117,7 +116,7 @@ class FantiaExtractor(Extractor):
                 yield self.root+"/"+content["download_uri"], post
 
             if content["category"] == "blog" and "comment" in content:
-                comment_json = json.loads(content["comment"])
+                comment_json = util.json_loads(content["comment"])
                 ops = comment_json.get("ops", ())
 
                 # collect blogpost text first
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/foolslide.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/foolslide.py
index 2290cc25..4a38fb4f 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/foolslide.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/foolslide.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2016-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2016-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 from .common import BaseExtractor, Message
 from .. import text, util
-import json
 
 
 class FoolslideExtractor(BaseExtractor):
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@ class FoolslideChapterExtractor(FoolslideExtractor):
         })
 
     def images(self, page):
-        return json.loads(text.extr(page, "var pages = ", ";"))
+        return util.json_loads(text.extr(page, "var pages = ", ";"))
 
 
 class FoolslideMangaExtractor(FoolslideExtractor):
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/hbrowse.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/hbrowse.py
index 43479c6f..5b561ead 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/hbrowse.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/hbrowse.py
@@ -1,16 +1,15 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2015-2019 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2015-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
 # published by the Free Software Foundation.
 
-"""Extract images from https://www.hbrowse.com/"""
+"""Extractors for https://www.hbrowse.com/"""
 
 from .common import ChapterExtractor, MangaExtractor
-from .. import text, exception
-import json
+from .. import text, util, exception
 
 
 class HbrowseBase():
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ class HbrowseChapterExtractor(HbrowseBase, ChapterExtractor):
     def images(self, page):
         base = self.root + "/data" + self.path
         json_data = text.extract(page, ';list = ', ',"zzz"')[0] + "]"
-        return [(base + name, None) for name in json.loads(json_data)]
+        return [(base + name, None) for name in util.json_loads(json_data)]
 
 
 class HbrowseMangaExtractor(HbrowseBase, MangaExtractor):
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/hentai2read.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/hentai2read.py
index dc4e31d2..e771a4fc 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/hentai2read.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/hentai2read.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://hentai2read.com/"""
 
 from .common import ChapterExtractor, MangaExtractor
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 import re
 
 
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ class Hentai2readChapterExtractor(Hentai2readBase, ChapterExtractor):
         images = text.extract(page, "'images' : ", ",\n")[0]
         return [
             ("https://hentaicdn.com/hentai" + part, None)
-            for part in json.loads(images)
+            for part in util.json_loads(images)
         ]
 
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaifox.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaifox.py
index 0327f563..ed8576f1 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaifox.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaifox.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2021 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://hentaifox.com/"""
 
 from .common import GalleryExtractor, Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class HentaifoxBase():
@@ -90,7 +89,7 @@ class HentaifoxGalleryExtractor(HentaifoxBase, GalleryExtractor):
         server1 = "https://i.hentaifox.com"
         server2 = "https://i2.hentaifox.com"
 
-        for num, image in json.loads(data).items():
+        for num, image in util.json_loads(data).items():
             ext, width, height = image.split(",")
             path = urlfmt(num, extmap[ext])
             append((server1 + path, {
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaihand.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaihand.py
index bf9e4641..0617330b 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaihand.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaihand.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2020-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2020-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 from .common import GalleryExtractor, Extractor, Message
 from .. import text, util
-import json
 
 
 class HentaihandGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ class HentaihandGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
         GalleryExtractor.__init__(self, match, url)
 
     def metadata(self, page):
-        info = json.loads(page)
+        info = util.json_loads(page)
         data = {
             "gallery_id" : text.parse_int(info["id"]),
             "title"      : info["title"],
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaihere.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaihere.py
index 38ec77c6..2297cc06 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaihere.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/hentaihere.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2016-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2016-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://hentaihere.com/"""
 
 from .common import ChapterExtractor, MangaExtractor
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 import re
 
 
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ class HentaihereChapterExtractor(HentaihereBase, ChapterExtractor):
         images = text.extr(page, "var rff_imageList = ", ";")
         return [
             ("https://hentaicdn.com/hentai" + part, None)
-            for part in json.loads(images)
+            for part in util.json_loads(images)
         ]
 
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/hitomi.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/hitomi.py
index 44459ceb..4e8d1cae 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/hitomi.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/hitomi.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2015-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2015-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ from .nozomi import decode_nozomi
 from ..cache import memcache
 from .. import text, util
 import string
-import json
 import re
 
 
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ class HitomiGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
             self.root, gid)
 
     def metadata(self, page):
-        self.info = info = json.loads(page.partition("=")[2])
+        self.info = info = util.json_loads(page.partition("=")[2])
         iget = info.get
 
         language = iget("language")
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/imagefap.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/imagefap.py
index 378e26db..497f1efa 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/imagefap.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/imagefap.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.imagefap.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
-import json
+from .. import text, util, exception
 
 BASE_PATTERN = r"(?:https?://)?(?:www\.|beta\.)?imagefap\.com"
 
@@ -173,7 +172,7 @@ class ImagefapImageExtractor(ImagefapExtractor):
             page, 'id="imageid_input" value="', '"', pos)
         gallery_id, pos = text.extract(
             page, 'id="galleryid_input" value="', '"', pos)
-        info = json.loads(info)
+        info = util.json_loads(info)
         url = info["contentUrl"]
 
         return url, text.nameext_from_url(url, {
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/imgbb.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/imgbb.py
index 49082d85..a2210752 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/imgbb.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/imgbb.py
@@ -9,9 +9,8 @@
 """Extractors for https://imgbb.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
+from .. import text, util, exception
 from ..cache import cache
-import json
 
 
 class ImgbbExtractor(Extractor):
@@ -98,7 +97,7 @@ class ImgbbExtractor(Extractor):
 
         while True:
             for img in text.extract_iter(page, "data-object='", "'"):
-                yield json.loads(text.unquote(img))
+                yield util.json_loads(text.unquote(img))
             if data:
                 if params["seek"] == data["seekEnd"]:
                     return
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/issuu.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/issuu.py
index 8067f63d..c0a1de1c 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/issuu.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/issuu.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://issuu.com/"""
 
 from .common import GalleryExtractor, Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class IssuuBase():
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ class IssuuPublicationExtractor(IssuuBase, GalleryExtractor):
     })
 
     def metadata(self, page):
-        data = json.loads(text.extr(
+        data = util.json_loads(text.extr(
             page, '<script data-json="', '"').replace("&quot;", '"'))
 
         doc = data["initialDocumentData"]["document"]
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/lightroom.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/lightroom.py
index d202e205..783473d6 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/lightroom.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/lightroom.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://lightroom.adobe.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class LightroomGalleryExtractor(Extractor):
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ class LightroomGalleryExtractor(Extractor):
         # Get config
         url = "https://lightroom.adobe.com/shares/" + self.href
         response = self.request(url)
-        album = json.loads(
+        album = util.json_loads(
             text.extr(response.text, "albumAttributes: ", "\n")
         )
 
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ class LightroomGalleryExtractor(Extractor):
             url = base_url + next_url
             page = self.request(url).text
             # skip 1st line as it's a JS loop
-            data = json.loads(page[page.index("\n") + 1:])
+            data = util.json_loads(page[page.index("\n") + 1:])
 
             base_url = data["base"]
             for res in data["resources"]:
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/mangapark.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/mangapark.py
index dcf1972c..168fbe84 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/mangapark.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/mangapark.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2015-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2015-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://mangapark.net/"""
 
 from .common import ChapterExtractor, MangaExtractor
-from .. import text, exception
-import json
+from .. import text, util, exception
 import re
 
 
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ class MangaparkChapterExtractor(MangaparkBase, ChapterExtractor):
         return data
 
     def images(self, page):
-        data = json.loads(text.extr(page, "var _load_pages =", ";"))
+        data = util.json_loads(text.extr(page, "var _load_pages =", ";"))
         return [
             (text.urljoin(self.root, item["u"]), {
                 "width": text.parse_int(item["w"]),
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/mangasee.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/mangasee.py
index 5fa56313..a1abf3ea 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/mangasee.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/mangasee.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2021-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2021-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 from .common import ChapterExtractor, MangaExtractor
 from .. import text, util
-import json
 
 
 class MangaseeBase():
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ class MangaseeChapterExtractor(MangaseeBase, ChapterExtractor):
 
     def metadata(self, page):
         extr = text.extract_from(page)
-        self.chapter = data = json.loads(extr("vm.CurChapter =", ";\r\n"))
+        self.chapter = data = util.json_loads(extr("vm.CurChapter =", ";\r\n"))
         self.domain = extr('vm.CurPathName = "', '"')
         self.slug = extr('vm.IndexName = "', '"')
 
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ class MangaseeMangaExtractor(MangaseeBase, MangaExtractor):
 
     def chapters(self, page):
         slug, pos = text.extract(page, 'vm.IndexName = "', '"')
-        chapters = json.loads(text.extract(
+        chapters = util.json_loads(text.extract(
             page, "vm.Chapters = ", ";\r\n", pos)[0])
 
         result = []
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/nana.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/nana.py
index 1db83b01..0f79d7f2 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/nana.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/nana.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://nana.my.id/"""
 
 from .common import GalleryExtractor, Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
-import json
+from .. import text, util, exception
 
 
 class NanaGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
@@ -59,7 +58,7 @@ class NanaGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
         }
 
     def images(self, page):
-        data = json.loads(text.extr(page, "Reader.pages = ", ".pages"))
+        data = util.json_loads(text.extr(page, "Reader.pages = ", ".pages"))
         return [
             ("https://nana.my.id" + image, None)
             for image in data["pages"]
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/newgrounds.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/newgrounds.py
index 1f96879f..371e4005 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/newgrounds.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/newgrounds.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2018-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2018-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.newgrounds.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
+from .. import text, util, exception
 from ..cache import cache
 import itertools
-import json
 
 
 class NewgroundsExtractor(Extractor):
@@ -151,7 +150,8 @@ class NewgroundsExtractor(Extractor):
 
     @staticmethod
     def _extract_image_data(extr, url):
-        full = text.extract_from(json.loads(extr('"full_image_text":', '});')))
+        full = text.extract_from(util.json_loads(extr(
+            '"full_image_text":', '});')))
         data = {
             "title"      : text.unescape(extr('"og:title" content="', '"')),
             "description": text.unescape(extr(':description" content="', '"')),
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/nhentai.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/nhentai.py
index 9df43e54..4270c84a 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/nhentai.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/nhentai.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2015-2021 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2015-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 from .common import GalleryExtractor, Extractor, Message
 from .. import text, util
 import collections
-import json
 
 
 class NhentaiGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ class NhentaiGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
         GalleryExtractor.__init__(self, match, url)
 
     def metadata(self, page):
-        self.data = data = json.loads(page)
+        self.data = data = util.json_loads(page)
 
         title_en = data["title"].get("english", "")
         title_ja = data["title"].get("japanese", "")
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/patreon.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/patreon.py
index 1f520c3f..e4bfa2a8 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/patreon.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/patreon.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,11 +9,10 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.patreon.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
+from .. import text, util, exception
 from ..cache import memcache
 import collections
 import itertools
-import json
 
 
 class PatreonExtractor(Extractor):
@@ -251,7 +250,7 @@ class PatreonExtractor(Extractor):
         return [genmap[ft] for ft in filetypes]
 
     def _extract_bootstrap(self, page):
-        return json.loads(text.extr(
+        return util.json_loads(text.extr(
             page, "window.patreon.bootstrap,", "\n});") + "}")
 
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/plurk.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/plurk.py
index 535fae91..1c24b5bb 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/plurk.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/plurk.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.plurk.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
+from .. import text, util, exception
 import datetime
 import time
-import json
 import re
 
 
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ class PlurkExtractor(Extractor):
     def _load(data):
         if not data:
             raise exception.NotFoundError("user")
-        return json.loads(re.sub(r"new Date\(([^)]+)\)", r"\1", data))
+        return util.json_loads(re.sub(r"new Date\(([^)]+)\)", r"\1", data))
 
 
 class PlurkTimelineExtractor(PlurkExtractor):
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/pururin.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/pururin.py
index 7e266cc6..32567f63 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/pururin.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/pururin.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2021 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 from .common import GalleryExtractor
 from .. import text, util
 import binascii
-import json
 
 
 class PururinGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ class PururinGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
 
         url = "{}/read/{}/01/x".format(self.root, self.gallery_id)
         page = self.request(url).text
-        info = json.loads(binascii.a2b_base64(text.extr(
+        info = util.json_loads(binascii.a2b_base64(text.extr(
             page, '<gallery-read encoded="', '"')).decode())
         self._ext = info["image_extension"]
         self._cnt = info["total_pages"]
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/reactor.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/reactor.py
index 8b5b6b69..1800b68d 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/reactor.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/reactor.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,9 +9,8 @@
 """Generic extractors for *reactor sites"""
 
 from .common import BaseExtractor, Message
-from .. import text
+from .. import text, util
 import urllib.parse
-import json
 
 
 class ReactorExtractor(BaseExtractor):
@@ -84,13 +83,13 @@ class ReactorExtractor(BaseExtractor):
         script = script[:script.index("</")].strip()
 
         try:
-            data = json.loads(script)
+            data = util.json_loads(script)
         except ValueError:
             try:
                 # remove control characters and escape backslashes
                 mapping = dict.fromkeys(range(32))
                 script = script.translate(mapping).replace("\\", "\\\\")
-                data = json.loads(script)
+                data = util.json_loads(script)
             except ValueError as exc:
                 self.log.warning("Unable to parse JSON data: %s", exc)
                 return
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/slideshare.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/slideshare.py
index 506db261..bea457f4 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/slideshare.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/slideshare.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2016-2022 Mike Fährmann, Leonardo Taccari
+# Copyright 2016-2023 Mike Fährmann, Leonardo Taccari
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.slideshare.net/"""
 
 from .common import GalleryExtractor
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class SlidesharePresentationExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ class SlidesharePresentationExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
 
     @staticmethod
     def images(page):
-        data = json.loads(text.extract(
+        data = util.json_loads(text.extract(
             page, "xtend(true, slideshare_object.slideshow_config, ", ");")[0])
 
         # useing 'stripped_title' here is technically wrong, but it works all
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/subscribestar.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/subscribestar.py
index ea39c5ea..4de7e9b5 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/subscribestar.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/subscribestar.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2020-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2020-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,9 +9,8 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.subscribestar.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
+from .. import text, util, exception
 from ..cache import cache
-import json
 
 BASE_PATTERN = r"(?:https?://)?(?:www\.)?subscribestar\.(com|adult)"
 
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ class SubscribestarExtractor(Extractor):
         gallery = text.extr(html, 'data-gallery="', '"')
         if gallery:
             media.extend(
-                item for item in json.loads(text.unescape(gallery))
+                item for item in util.json_loads(text.unescape(gallery))
                 if "/previews/" not in item["url"]
             )
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/twitter.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/twitter.py
index 137a9b59..03adc15b 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/twitter.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/twitter.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ class TwitterExtractor(Extractor):
                             files.append(value)
                             return
         elif name == "unified_card":
-            data = json.loads(bvals["unified_card"]["string_value"])
+            data = util.json_loads(bvals["unified_card"]["string_value"])
             self._extract_media(tweet, data["media_entities"].values(), files)
             return
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/vsco.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/vsco.py
index 00389faf..053a799f 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/vsco.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/vsco.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://vsco.co/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 BASE_PATTERN = r"(?:https?://)?(?:www\.)?vsco\.co/([^/]+)"
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ class VscoExtractor(Extractor):
 
     def _extract_preload_state(self, url):
         page = self.request(url, notfound=self.subcategory).text
-        return json.loads(text.extr(page, "__PRELOADED_STATE__ = ", "<"))
+        return util.json_loads(text.extr(page, "__PRELOADED_STATE__ = ", "<"))
 
     def _pagination(self, url, params, token, key, extra=None):
         headers = {
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/weibo.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/weibo.py
index ab05c48e..68bd1366 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/weibo.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/weibo.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2019-2022 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2019-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.weibo.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text, exception
+from .. import text, util, exception
 from ..cache import cache
 import random
-import json
 
 BASE_PATTERN = r"(?:https?://)?(?:www\.|m\.)?weibo\.c(?:om|n)"
 USER_PATTERN = BASE_PATTERN + r"/(?:(u|n|p(?:rofile)?)/)?([^/?#]+)(?:/home)?"
@@ -179,7 +178,7 @@ class WeiboExtractor(Extractor):
 
         page = Extractor.request(
             self, passport_url, method="POST", headers=headers, data=data).text
-        data = json.loads(text.extr(page, "(", ");"))["data"]
+        data = util.json_loads(text.extr(page, "(", ");"))["data"]
 
         passport_url = "https://passport.weibo.com/visitor/visitor"
         params = {
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/wikifeet.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/wikifeet.py
index 70e96462..662e08b9 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/wikifeet.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/wikifeet.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.wikifeet.com/"""
 
 from .common import GalleryExtractor
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class WikifeetGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
@@ -114,5 +113,5 @@ class WikifeetGalleryExtractor(GalleryExtractor):
                 "height": data["ph"],
                 "tags"  : [tagmap[tag] for tag in data["tags"]],
             })
-            for data in json.loads(text.extr(page, "['gdata'] = ", ";"))
+            for data in util.json_loads(text.extr(page, "['gdata'] = ", ";"))
         ]
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/xhamster.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/xhamster.py
index 0125739e..b308e74a 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/xhamster.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/xhamster.py
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://xhamster.com/"""
 
 from .common import Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
-
+from .. import text, util
 
 BASE_PATTERN = (r"(?:https?://)?((?:[\w-]+\.)?xhamster"
                 r"(?:\d?\.(?:com|one|desi)|\.porncache\.net))")
@@ -144,7 +142,7 @@ class XhamsterGalleryExtractor(XhamsterExtractor):
 
     def _data(self, url):
         page = self.request(url).text
-        return json.loads(text.extr(
+        return util.json_loads(text.extr(
             page, "window.initials=", "</script>").rstrip("\n\r;"))
 
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/xvideos.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/xvideos.py
index 10de439d..46ea0743 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/xvideos.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/xvideos.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 """Extractors for https://www.xvideos.com/"""
 
 from .common import GalleryExtractor, Extractor, Message
-from .. import text
-import json
+from .. import text, util
 
 
 class XvideosBase():
@@ -113,7 +112,7 @@ class XvideosUserExtractor(XvideosBase, Extractor):
     def items(self):
         url = "{}/profiles/{}".format(self.root, self.user)
         page = self.request(url, notfound=self.subcategory).text
-        data = json.loads(text.extr(
+        data = util.json_loads(text.extr(
             page, "xv.conf=", ";</script>"))["data"]
 
         if not isinstance(data["galleries"], dict):
diff --git a/gallery_dl/option.py b/gallery_dl/option.py
index 9b915505..af70c840 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/option.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/option.py
@@ -10,9 +10,8 @@
 
 import argparse
 import logging
-import json
 import sys
-from . import job, version
+from . import job, util, version
 
 
 class ConfigAction(argparse.Action):
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ class Formatter(argparse.HelpFormatter):
 def _parse_option(opt):
     key, _, value = opt.partition("=")
     try:
-        value = json.loads(value)
+        value = util.json_loads(value)
     except ValueError:
         pass
     return key, value
diff --git a/gallery_dl/util.py b/gallery_dl/util.py
index 30f99a18..a5e782d3 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/util.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/util.py
@@ -204,6 +204,9 @@ def datetime_to_timestamp_string(dt):
         return ""
 
 
+json_loads = json._default_decoder.decode
+
+
 def dump_json(obj, fp=sys.stdout, ensure_ascii=True, indent=4):
     """Serialize 'obj' as JSON and write it to 'fp'"""
     json.dump(
@@ -513,7 +516,7 @@ def parse_inputfile(file, log):
                 continue
 
             try:
-                value = json.loads(value.strip())
+                value = json_loads(value.strip())
             except ValueError as exc:
                 log.warning("input file: unable to parse '%s': %s", value, exc)
                 continue
diff --git a/test/test_config.py b/test/test_config.py
index 7cbb12b8..859faf53 100644
--- a/test/test_config.py
+++ b/test/test_config.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-# Copyright 2015-2020 Mike Fährmann
+# Copyright 2015-2023 Mike Fährmann
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
@@ -11,12 +11,11 @@ import os
 import sys
 import unittest
 
-import json
 import tempfile
 
 ROOTDIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 sys.path.insert(0, ROOTDIR)
-from gallery_dl import config  # noqa E402
+from gallery_dl import config, util  # noqa E402
 
 
 class TestConfig(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -209,8 +208,8 @@ class TestConfigFiles(unittest.TestCase):
     def _load(name):
         path = os.path.join(ROOTDIR, "docs", name)
         try:
-            with open(path) as fp:
-                return json.load(fp)
+            with open(path) as file:
+                return util.json_loads(file.read())
         except FileNotFoundError:
             raise unittest.SkipTest(path + " not available")