diff --git a/www/README.md b/www/README.md
index 8277ff3..2854aff 100644
--- a/www/README.md
+++ b/www/README.md
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ The default values are:
 
 ```txt
 PUBLIC_AIA_API_BASE=https://api.azinstitute4autism.com
+PUBLIC_COUNTERS_MODE=off
+PUBLIC_COUNTERS_LIVE_APPROVED=false
 PUBLIC_ALLOW_INDEXING=false
 ```
 
@@ -94,6 +96,16 @@ not deploy anything or change environment files. Run `npm run build` afterward
 to restore staging output. Only explicitly authorized production deployments
 should publish indexing-enabled artifacts.
 
+Ordinary local builds keep counters off. `npm run deploy` deliberately and
+non-overridably builds the production artifact with live counters, the approved
+API origin and `PUBLIC_COUNTERS_LIVE_APPROVED=true`. Article pages post one
+first-party view per real navigation; Library cards only batch-read statistics.
+Likes use the existing POST/DELETE API and store only the visitor's chosen slug
+set in localStorage. No view cookies or visitor identifiers are created. Run
+`npm run test:counters`, then build in live mode and run `npm run
+verify:counters -- --browser=chromium` (or `firefox`) for a fully intercepted
+browser regression that cannot write production counters.
+
 ## View And Build
 
 ### Development Server
@@ -600,16 +612,18 @@ Use `PUBLIC_AIA_FORMS_MODE=off npm run build` for an offline artifact, or
 `PUBLIC_AIA_FORMS_MODE=mock npm run dev` for synthetic fixtures. Missing/empty
 mode means live; obsolete `isolated-test` and other invalid values produce an
 explicit configuration error. Remove old approval/environment variables from
-local settings. Indexing is independent of forms; counters remain off by default.
+local settings. Indexing and form mode remain independent of counter mode.
 
 See the [current Form A guide](integrations/jotform/README.md) for the exact
 registry, safeguards, rollback and owner acceptance requirements. Form C remains
 inactive. Employee-portal private input retains its own separate gates.
 
 Verify matching output with
-`node tools/phase10-artifact-verify.mjs --mode=staging --forms=live`;
+`node tools/phase10-artifact-verify.mjs --mode=staging --forms=live --counters=off`;
 use `--mode=indexing` for indexing output and `--forms=off` or `--forms=mock`
-for those explicit builds. No actual submissions run in automated tests.
+for those explicit builds. Production counter artifacts require
+`--counters=live`. No actual submissions or production counter writes run in
+automated tests.
 
 ## Static releases and employee portal
 
diff --git a/www/package.json b/www/package.json
index 7a7b1c8..024fd79 100644
--- a/www/package.json
+++ b/www/package.json
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
     "test:seo": "node --experimental-strip-types --test tools/seo.test.mjs",
     "test:library": "node --experimental-strip-types --test tools/library.test.mjs",
     "test:campaign": "node --test tools/campaign.test.mjs",
+    "test:counters": "node --experimental-strip-types --test tools/counters.test.mjs",
+    "verify:counters": "node tools/counters-browser.mjs",
     "verify:campaign": "node tools/campaign-browser.mjs",
     "generate:sitemap": "node tools/generate-sitemap.mjs",
     "generate:redirects": "node tools/generate-redirects.mjs"
diff --git a/www/src/components/LikeViewCounter.astro b/www/src/components/LikeViewCounter.astro
index 29ebe2e..f2eb5ea 100644
--- a/www/src/components/LikeViewCounter.astro
+++ b/www/src/components/LikeViewCounter.astro
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 ---
 import { articleMessages } from '../utils/article-messages';
 import { counterModeForRuntime, resolveCounterConfig } from '../utils/counter-mode';
-interface Props { slug: string; lang: string }
-const { slug, lang } = Astro.props;
+interface Props { slug: string; lang: string; trackView?: boolean }
+const { slug, lang, trackView = false } = Astro.props;
 const text = articleMessages(lang);
 const counterConfig = resolveCounterConfig(
   import.meta.env.PUBLIC_COUNTERS_MODE,
@@ -15,21 +15,23 @@ const mockResult = import.meta.env.PUBLIC_COUNTERS_MOCK_RESULT === 'failed' || i
   : 'success';
 const statusId = `counter-status-${slug.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_-]/g, '-')}`;
 ---
-<div class="like-view-counter" data-counter data-counter-mode={runtimeMode} data-counter-reason={counterConfig.reason} data-mock-result={mockResult}>
+<div class="like-view-counter" data-counter data-counter-mode={runtimeMode} data-counter-reason={counterConfig.reason} data-api-base={counterConfig.apiBase} data-slug={slug} data-track-view={trackView ? 'true' : 'false'} data-like-label={text.like} data-unlike-label={text.unlike} data-ready-message={text.countersReady} data-error-message={text.counterError} data-mock-result={mockResult}>
   <span aria-label={text.articleViews}><span class="view-count" data-views dir={lang === 'ar' ? 'ltr' : undefined}>—</span> {text.views}</span>
   <span class="like-group" role={lang === 'ar' ? 'group' : undefined} aria-label={lang === 'ar' ? text.likes : undefined}>
     <span class="like-count" data-likes dir={lang === 'ar' ? 'ltr' : undefined}>—</span>
-    <button class="like-button" type="button" data-like data-slug={slug} aria-label={text.like} aria-describedby={statusId} aria-pressed="false" disabled={runtimeMode === 'off'}>
+    <button class="like-button" type="button" data-like aria-label={text.like} aria-describedby={statusId} aria-pressed="false" disabled={runtimeMode !== 'mock'}>
       <svg aria-hidden="true" viewBox="0 0 12 10" width="20" height="20" focusable="false" class="like-icon">
         <path d="m1 4.4c-1-4 2.5-5 4.5-2.5l.5 .6l.5-.6c2-2.5 6-1.5 4.5 2.5q-1 3-5 5q-4-2-5-5z"></path>
       </svg>
     </button>
   </span>
-  <span id={statusId} class="counter-status" aria-live="polite">{runtimeMode === 'mock' ? 'Demo metrics only' : text.counterUnavailable}</span>
+  <span id={statusId} class="counter-status" aria-live="polite">{runtimeMode === 'mock' ? 'Demo metrics only' : runtimeMode === 'off' ? text.counterUnavailable : ''}</span>
 </div>
 <script>
   import { bindMockForms } from '../scripts/mock-form';
+  import { bindLiveCounters } from '../scripts/likes-views';
   bindMockForms();
+  void bindLiveCounters();
 </script>
 
 <style>
diff --git a/www/src/layouts/BlogPostLayout.astro b/www/src/layouts/BlogPostLayout.astro
index 3882fed..1b9b88a 100644
--- a/www/src/layouts/BlogPostLayout.astro
+++ b/www/src/layouts/BlogPostLayout.astro
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const schema = blogPostingSchema(entry, publication, authors, site.url);
       {entry.data.featuredImage && <div class="article-featured"><img src={entry.data.featuredImage} alt={entry.data.alt || ''} /></div>}
     </header>
     <div class="prose blog-post-body container"><slot /></div>
-    <div class="container"><LikeViewCounter slug={entry.data.slug} lang={entry.data.lang} /></div>
+    <div class="container"><LikeViewCounter slug={entry.data.slug} lang={entry.data.lang} trackView /></div>
   </article>
   <BlogPostFooter entryId={entry.id} lang={entry.data.lang} />
 </BaseLayout>
diff --git a/www/src/scripts/likes-views.ts b/www/src/scripts/likes-views.ts
index 719c59a..17b05c8 100644
--- a/www/src/scripts/likes-views.ts
+++ b/www/src/scripts/likes-views.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,203 @@
-/** Live counter behavior is intentionally not enabled by this migration. */
-export { counterModeForRuntime, resolveCounterConfig } from '../utils/counter-mode';
+const likeStorageKey = 'aia-liked-articles-v1';
+const requestTimeoutMs = 8_000;
+const pendingLikes = new Set<string>();
+
+type CounterStats = Record<string, { likes: number; views: number }>;
+type Fetcher = typeof fetch;
+
+function endpoint(base: string, path: string) {
+  return `${base.replace(/\/$/, '')}${path}`;
+}
+
+function browserStorage(): Pick<Storage, 'getItem' | 'setItem'> {
+  try {
+    return localStorage;
+  } catch {
+    return { getItem: () => null, setItem: () => undefined };
+  }
+}
+
+export function readLikedSlugs(storage: Pick<Storage, 'getItem'> = browserStorage()) {
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(storage.getItem(likeStorageKey) ?? '[]');
+    return new Set(Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed.filter((slug): slug is string => typeof slug === 'string') : []);
+  } catch {
+    return new Set<string>();
+  }
+}
+
+function writeLikedSlugs(liked: Set<string>, storage: Pick<Storage, 'setItem'>) {
+  try {
+    storage.setItem(likeStorageKey, JSON.stringify([...liked].sort()));
+  } catch {
+    // The counter remains usable in memory when storage is unavailable.
+  }
+}
+
+async function requestJson(fetcher: Fetcher, url: string, init: RequestInit, timeoutMs = requestTimeoutMs) {
+  const controller = new AbortController();
+  const timeout = globalThis.setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), timeoutMs);
+  try {
+    const response = await fetcher(url, {
+      ...init,
+      signal: controller.signal,
+      credentials: 'omit',
+      referrerPolicy: 'no-referrer',
+    });
+    if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Counter API returned ${response.status}`);
+    return await response.json();
+  } finally {
+    globalThis.clearTimeout(timeout);
+  }
+}
+
+export async function fetchCounterStats(apiBase: string, slugs: string[], fetcher: Fetcher = fetch, timeoutMs = requestTimeoutMs): Promise<CounterStats> {
+  return requestJson(fetcher, endpoint(apiBase, '/stats/batch'), {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify({ slugs: [...new Set(slugs)] }),
+  }, timeoutMs);
+}
+
+export async function reportArticleView(apiBase: string, slug: string, fetcher: Fetcher = fetch): Promise<number> {
+  const result = await requestJson(fetcher, endpoint(apiBase, '/views'), {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify({ slug }),
+    keepalive: true,
+  });
+  if (!Number.isInteger(result.views) || result.views < 0) throw new Error('Invalid view response');
+  return result.views;
+}
+
+export async function updateLike(apiBase: string, slug: string, liked: boolean, fetcher: Fetcher = fetch): Promise<number> {
+  const result = await requestJson(fetcher, endpoint(apiBase, liked ? `/likes/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}` : '/likes'), {
+    method: liked ? 'DELETE' : 'POST',
+    headers: liked ? undefined : { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    body: liked ? undefined : JSON.stringify({ slug }),
+  });
+  if (!Number.isInteger(result.count) || result.count < 0) throw new Error('Invalid like response');
+  return result.count;
+}
+
+function countersForSlug(root: ParentNode, slug: string) {
+  return [...root.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[data-counter][data-counter-mode="live"]')]
+    .filter((counter) => counter.dataset.slug === slug);
+}
+
+function render(root: ParentNode, slug: string, stats: { likes?: number; views?: number }) {
+  for (const counter of countersForSlug(root, slug)) {
+    if (stats.views !== undefined) {
+      const views = counter.querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-views]');
+      if (views) views.textContent = String(stats.views);
+    }
+    if (stats.likes !== undefined) {
+      const likes = counter.querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-likes]');
+      if (likes) likes.textContent = String(stats.likes);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function renderLiked(root: ParentNode, slug: string, liked: boolean) {
+  for (const counter of countersForSlug(root, slug)) {
+    const button = counter.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-like]');
+    if (!button) continue;
+    button.setAttribute('aria-pressed', String(liked));
+    button.classList.toggle('liked', liked);
+    button.setAttribute('aria-label', liked ? counter.dataset.unlikeLabel ?? 'Remove your like' : counter.dataset.likeLabel ?? 'Like this article');
+  }
+}
+
+function status(root: ParentNode, slug: string, failed: boolean) {
+  for (const counter of countersForSlug(root, slug)) {
+    const output = counter.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.counter-status');
+    if (output) output.textContent = failed ? counter.dataset.errorMessage ?? 'Engagement metrics are temporarily unavailable' : counter.dataset.readyMessage ?? '';
+  }
+}
+
+export async function bindLiveCounters(
+  root: ParentNode = document,
+  fetcher: Fetcher = fetch,
+  storage: Pick<Storage, 'getItem' | 'setItem'> = browserStorage(),
+) {
+  const counters = [...root.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[data-counter][data-counter-mode="live"]')];
+  const pending = counters.filter((counter) => counter.dataset.counterBound !== 'true');
+  if (!pending.length) return;
+  for (const counter of pending) counter.dataset.counterBound = 'true';
+
+  const liked = readLikedSlugs(storage);
+  const apiBase = pending[0].dataset.apiBase;
+  const slugs = [...new Set(pending.map((counter) => counter.dataset.slug).filter((slug): slug is string => Boolean(slug)))];
+  if (!apiBase || !slugs.length) return;
+
+  for (const slug of slugs) renderLiked(root, slug, liked.has(slug));
+  const viewRequests = pending
+    .filter((counter) => counter.dataset.trackView === 'true' && counter.dataset.viewReported !== 'true')
+    .map((counter) => {
+      const slug = counter.dataset.slug;
+      if (!slug) return undefined;
+      // Mark before the non-retried request. Repeated initialization and
+      // bfcache restoration reuse this DOM marker and cannot double-count.
+      counter.dataset.viewReported = 'true';
+      return reportArticleView(apiBase, slug, fetcher)
+        .then((views) => ({ slug, views, failed: false }))
+        .catch(() => ({ slug, views: undefined, failed: true }));
+    })
+    .filter((request): request is NonNullable<typeof request> => Boolean(request));
+
+  // Start the pageview request immediately. Statistics retrieval and rendering
+  // remain nonblocking, and the later view response wins any read/increment race.
+  try {
+    const stats = await fetchCounterStats(apiBase, slugs, fetcher);
+    for (const slug of slugs) {
+      if (stats[slug]) render(root, slug, stats[slug]);
+      status(root, slug, false);
+    }
+  } catch {
+    for (const slug of slugs) status(root, slug, true);
+  } finally {
+    for (const counter of pending) {
+      const button = counter.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-like]');
+      const slug = counter.dataset.slug;
+      if (!button || !slug) continue;
+      button.disabled = false;
+      button.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+        if (pendingLikes.has(slug)) return;
+        pendingLikes.add(slug);
+        for (const copy of countersForSlug(root, slug)) {
+          const copyButton = copy.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-like]');
+          if (copyButton) copyButton.disabled = true;
+        }
+        const wasLiked = liked.has(slug);
+        try {
+          const count = await updateLike(apiBase, slug, wasLiked, fetcher);
+          wasLiked ? liked.delete(slug) : liked.add(slug);
+          writeLikedSlugs(liked, storage);
+          render(root, slug, { likes: count });
+          renderLiked(root, slug, !wasLiked);
+          status(root, slug, false);
+        } catch {
+          status(root, slug, true);
+        } finally {
+          pendingLikes.delete(slug);
+          for (const copy of countersForSlug(root, slug)) {
+            const copyButton = copy.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-like]');
+            if (copyButton) copyButton.disabled = false;
+          }
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const request of viewRequests) {
+    const result = await request;
+    if (result.failed || result.views === undefined) status(root, result.slug, true);
+    else render(root, result.slug, { views: result.views });
+  }
+}
+
+if (typeof document !== 'undefined') {
+  document.addEventListener('astro:page-load', () => void bindLiveCounters());
+}
+
+export { counterModeForRuntime, resolveCounterConfig } from '../utils/counter-mode.ts';
diff --git a/www/src/utils/article-messages.ts b/www/src/utils/article-messages.ts
index eb6183e..7f9c18a 100644
--- a/www/src/utils/article-messages.ts
+++ b/www/src/utils/article-messages.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 /** Arabic article chrome; preserve the existing English/Spanish labels. */
 const english = {
   views: 'views', articleViews: 'Article views', likes: 'Likes', like: 'Like this article',
+  unlike: 'Remove your like', countersReady: '', counterError: 'Engagement metrics are temporarily unavailable',
   counterUnavailable: 'Engagement metrics are unavailable',
   navigation: 'Article navigation', previous: 'Previous Post', next: 'Next Post',
   related: 'Similar Blog Posts', readFull: 'Read full post',
 };
 const arabic: typeof english = {
   views: 'مشاهدات', articleViews: 'مشاهدات المقال', likes: 'الإعجابات', like: 'الإعجاب بهذا المقال',
+  unlike: 'إزالة الإعجاب', countersReady: '', counterError: 'إحصاءات التفاعل غير متاحة مؤقتًا',
   counterUnavailable: 'إحصاءات التفاعل غير متاحة',
   navigation: 'التنقل بين المقالات', previous: 'المقال السابق', next: 'المقال التالي',
   related: 'مقالات ذات صلة', readFull: 'قراءة المقال كاملاً',
diff --git a/www/src/utils/counter-mode.ts b/www/src/utils/counter-mode.ts
index 64762b3..4bdb8f6 100644
--- a/www/src/utils/counter-mode.ts
+++ b/www/src/utils/counter-mode.ts
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ export function resolveCounterConfig(
   return { mode: 'live', apiBase, reason: 'live-approved' };
 }
 
-export function counterModeForRuntime(config: CounterConfig): 'off' | 'mock' {
-  // Live behavior is intentionally not implemented by the migration. Keep an
-  // approved future setting fail-closed until a separately authorized adapter exists.
-  return config.mode === 'mock' ? 'mock' : 'off';
+export function counterModeForRuntime(config: CounterConfig): CounterMode {
+  return config.mode;
 }
diff --git a/www/tools/counters-browser.mjs b/www/tools/counters-browser.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a25f0ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/www/tools/counters-browser.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+/**
+ * Browser regression for the built live-counter artifact. Every API request is
+ * intercepted and fulfilled locally; this script never writes production data.
+ */
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import http from 'node:http';
+import net from 'node:net';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import { fileURLToPath, pathToFileURL } from 'node:url';
+import { setTimeout as delay } from 'node:timers/promises';
+
+const browserName = process.argv.find((argument) => argument.startsWith('--browser='))?.split('=')[1] ?? 'chromium';
+assert.ok(['chromium', 'firefox'].includes(browserName));
+const moduleName = process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_MODULE
+  ? pathToFileURL(path.resolve(process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_MODULE)).href
+  : 'playwright';
+const root = path.resolve(path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), '..');
+const reserve = net.createServer();
+await new Promise((resolve, reject) => { reserve.once('error', reject); reserve.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', resolve); });
+const port = reserve.address().port;
+await new Promise((resolve) => reserve.close(resolve));
+const origin = `http://127.0.0.1:${port}`;
+const apiOrigin = 'https://api.azinstitute4autism.com';
+const calls = [];
+let views = 100;
+let likes = 5;
+let browser;
+let preview;
+
+try {
+  const drivers = await import(moduleName);
+  const driver = drivers[browserName];
+  const executablePath = browserName === 'chromium' ? process.env.CHROMIUM_EXECUTABLE : process.env.FIREFOX_EXECUTABLE;
+  browser = await driver.launch(executablePath ? { headless: true, executablePath } : { headless: true });
+  preview = spawn(process.execPath, ['node_modules/astro/bin/astro.mjs', 'preview', '--host', '127.0.0.1', '--port', String(port)], {
+    cwd: root,
+    env: { ...process.env, ASTRO_TELEMETRY_DISABLED: '1' },
+    stdio: 'ignore',
+  });
+  const reachable = () => new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const request = http.get(`${origin}/`, (response) => { response.resume(); resolve(response.statusCode === 200); });
+    request.setTimeout(500, () => request.destroy());
+    request.on('error', () => resolve(false));
+  });
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 60 && !(await reachable()); attempt += 1) await delay(250);
+  assert.equal(await reachable(), true, 'Loopback Astro preview did not start');
+
+  const context = await browser.newContext();
+  await context.route(`${apiOrigin}/**`, async (route) => {
+    const request = route.request();
+    const url = new URL(request.url());
+    if (request.method() === 'OPTIONS') {
+      await route.fulfill({ status: 204, headers: {
+        'access-control-allow-origin': origin,
+        'access-control-allow-methods': 'POST, DELETE, OPTIONS',
+        'access-control-allow-headers': 'content-type',
+      } });
+      return;
+    }
+    const body = request.postDataJSON?.() ?? undefined;
+    calls.push({ method: request.method(), path: url.pathname, body });
+    let response;
+    if (url.pathname === '/stats/batch') {
+      response = Object.fromEntries(body.slugs.map((slug) => [slug, { likes, views }]));
+    } else if (url.pathname === '/views') {
+      views += 1;
+      response = { views };
+    } else if (url.pathname === '/likes' && request.method() === 'POST') {
+      likes += 1;
+      response = { count: likes };
+    } else if (url.pathname.startsWith('/likes/') && request.method() === 'DELETE') {
+      likes = Math.max(0, likes - 1);
+      response = { count: likes };
+    } else {
+      await route.fulfill({ status: 404, body: '{}' });
+      return;
+    }
+    await route.fulfill({
+      status: 200,
+      contentType: 'application/json',
+      headers: { 'access-control-allow-origin': origin },
+      body: JSON.stringify(response),
+    });
+  });
+  const page = await context.newPage();
+  const article = '/library/aba-school-readiness-guide';
+  await page.goto(`${origin}${article}`);
+  await page.locator('[data-counter][data-track-view="true"] [data-views]').waitFor();
+  await assert.doesNotReject(async () => page.waitForFunction(() =>
+    document.querySelector('[data-counter][data-track-view="true"] [data-views]')?.textContent === '101'));
+  assert.equal(calls.filter((call) => call.path === '/views').length, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls.find((call) => call.path === '/views').body, { slug: 'aba-school-readiness-guide' });
+
+  await page.locator('[data-counter][data-track-view="true"] [data-like]').click();
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => document.querySelector('[data-counter][data-track-view="true"] [data-like]')?.getAttribute('aria-pressed') === 'true');
+  assert.equal(calls.filter((call) => call.path === '/likes' && call.method === 'POST').length, 1);
+  assert.equal(await page.evaluate(() => localStorage.length), 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(await page.evaluate(() => Object.keys(localStorage)), ['aia-liked-articles-v1']);
+
+  await page.locator('[data-counter][data-track-view="true"] [data-like]').click();
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => document.querySelector('[data-counter][data-track-view="true"] [data-like]')?.getAttribute('aria-pressed') === 'false');
+  assert.equal(calls.filter((call) => call.method === 'DELETE').length, 1);
+
+  await page.reload();
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => document.querySelector('[data-counter][data-track-view="true"] [data-views]')?.textContent === '102');
+  assert.equal(calls.filter((call) => call.path === '/views').length, 2, 'a real reload is a new view');
+
+  const beforeListing = calls.filter((call) => call.path === '/views').length;
+  await page.goto(`${origin}/library`);
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => document.querySelector('[data-counter] [data-views]')?.textContent !== '—');
+  assert.equal(calls.filter((call) => call.path === '/views').length, beforeListing, 'listing cards never report views');
+
+  for (const route of [
+    '/es/library/executive-functioning-skills-autism',
+    '/ar/library/executive-functioning-skills-autism',
+  ]) {
+    await page.goto(`${origin}${route}`);
+    await page.waitForFunction(() => document.querySelector('[data-counter][data-track-view="true"]')?.dataset.viewReported === 'true');
+  }
+  const translated = calls.filter((call) => call.path === '/views').slice(-2);
+  assert.deepEqual(translated.map((call) => call.body.slug), [
+    'executive-functioning-skills-autism',
+    'executive-functioning-skills-autism',
+  ]);
+
+  console.log(JSON.stringify({ browser: browserName, version: browser.version(), checks: 18, productionRequests: 0 }));
+  await context.close();
+} finally {
+  if (preview) preview.kill('SIGTERM');
+  if (browser) await browser.close();
+}
diff --git a/www/tools/counters.test.mjs b/www/tools/counters.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e5fd6ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/www/tools/counters.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import fs from 'node:fs/promises';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import test from 'node:test';
+import fg from 'fast-glob';
+import matter from 'gray-matter';
+import {
+  bindLiveCounters,
+  fetchCounterStats,
+  readLikedSlugs,
+  reportArticleView,
+  updateLike,
+} from '../src/scripts/likes-views.ts';
+
+class FakeClassList {
+  values = new Set();
+  toggle(name, enabled) { enabled ? this.values.add(name) : this.values.delete(name); }
+}
+
+class FakeButton {
+  attributes = new Map([['aria-pressed', 'false']]);
+  classList = new FakeClassList();
+  disabled = true;
+  listeners = [];
+  setAttribute(name, value) { this.attributes.set(name, value); }
+  getAttribute(name) { return this.attributes.get(name); }
+  addEventListener(name, callback) { if (name === 'click') this.listeners.push(callback); }
+  async click() { for (const callback of this.listeners) await callback(); }
+}
+
+class FakeCounter {
+  constructor(slug, { trackView = false, lang = 'en' } = {}) {
+    this.dataset = {
+      slug,
+      counterMode: 'live',
+      apiBase: 'https://api.example.test',
+      trackView: String(trackView),
+      likeLabel: lang === 'ar' ? 'إعجاب' : 'Like',
+      unlikeLabel: lang === 'ar' ? 'إزالة الإعجاب' : 'Unlike',
+      readyMessage: '',
+      errorMessage: lang === 'ar' ? 'خطأ مؤقت' : 'Temporarily unavailable',
+    };
+    this.views = { textContent: '—' };
+    this.likes = { textContent: '—' };
+    this.status = { textContent: '' };
+    this.button = new FakeButton();
+  }
+  querySelector(selector) {
+    return selector === '[data-views]' ? this.views
+      : selector === '[data-likes]' ? this.likes
+        : selector === '[data-like]' ? this.button
+          : selector === '.counter-status' ? this.status : null;
+  }
+}
+
+class FakeRoot {
+  constructor(counters) { this.counters = counters; }
+  querySelectorAll(selector) {
+    return selector === '[data-counter][data-counter-mode="live"]' ? this.counters : [];
+  }
+}
+
+class FakeStorage {
+  values = new Map();
+  getItem(key) { return this.values.get(key) ?? null; }
+  setItem(key, value) { this.values.set(key, value); }
+}
+
+function response(body, status = 200) {
+  return new Response(JSON.stringify(body), { status, headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' } });
+}
+
+test('counter transport batches unique slugs and never sends credentials', async () => {
+  const calls = [];
+  const fetcher = async (url, options) => {
+    calls.push({ url, options });
+    return response({ article: { likes: 3, views: 9 } });
+  };
+  const result = await fetchCounterStats('https://api.example.test/', ['article', 'article'], fetcher);
+  assert.equal(result.article.views, 9);
+  assert.equal(calls.length, 1);
+  assert.equal(calls[0].url, 'https://api.example.test/stats/batch');
+  assert.equal(calls[0].options.credentials, 'omit');
+  assert.equal(calls[0].options.referrerPolicy, 'no-referrer');
+  assert.deepEqual(JSON.parse(calls[0].options.body), { slugs: ['article'] });
+});
+
+test('article views and likes use the existing API contracts', async () => {
+  const calls = [];
+  const fetcher = async (url, options) => {
+    calls.push({ url, options });
+    return response(url.endsWith('/views') ? { views: 42 } : { count: 8 });
+  };
+  assert.equal(await reportArticleView('https://api.example.test', 'article', fetcher), 42);
+  assert.equal(await updateLike('https://api.example.test', 'article', false, fetcher), 8);
+  assert.equal(await updateLike('https://api.example.test', 'article', true, fetcher), 8);
+  assert.deepEqual(JSON.parse(calls[0].options.body), { slug: 'article' });
+  assert.equal(calls[0].options.keepalive, true);
+  assert.equal(calls[1].options.method, 'POST');
+  assert.equal(calls[2].options.method, 'DELETE');
+  assert.equal(calls[2].url, 'https://api.example.test/likes/article');
+});
+
+test('one article navigation increments once while cards only retrieve statistics', async () => {
+  const article = new FakeCounter('shared-slug', { trackView: true });
+  const duplicate = new FakeCounter('shared-slug');
+  const card = new FakeCounter('other-slug');
+  const root = new FakeRoot([article, duplicate, card]);
+  const storage = new FakeStorage();
+  const calls = [];
+  const fetcher = async (url, options) => {
+    calls.push({ url, options });
+    if (url.endsWith('/stats/batch')) return response({
+      'shared-slug': { likes: 4, views: 20 },
+      'other-slug': { likes: 1, views: 2 },
+    });
+    if (url.endsWith('/views')) return response({ views: 21 });
+    if (options.method === 'POST') return response({ count: 5 });
+    return response({ count: 4 });
+  };
+
+  await bindLiveCounters(root, fetcher, storage);
+  await bindLiveCounters(root, fetcher, storage);
+  assert.equal(calls.filter((call) => call.url.endsWith('/stats/batch')).length, 1);
+  assert.equal(calls.filter((call) => call.url.endsWith('/views')).length, 1);
+  assert.equal(article.views.textContent, '21');
+  assert.equal(duplicate.views.textContent, '21');
+  assert.equal(card.views.textContent, '2');
+
+  await article.button.click();
+  assert.equal(article.likes.textContent, '5');
+  assert.equal(duplicate.likes.textContent, '5');
+  assert.equal(article.button.getAttribute('aria-pressed'), 'true');
+  assert.deepEqual([...readLikedSlugs(storage)], ['shared-slug']);
+
+  await duplicate.button.click();
+  assert.equal(article.likes.textContent, '4');
+  assert.equal(duplicate.button.getAttribute('aria-pressed'), 'false');
+  assert.deepEqual([...readLikedSlugs(storage)], []);
+});
+
+test('API failures preserve rendering and expose localized inline status', async () => {
+  const counter = new FakeCounter('article', { trackView: true, lang: 'ar' });
+  const root = new FakeRoot([counter]);
+  await bindLiveCounters(root, async () => response({ error: 'offline' }, 503), new FakeStorage());
+  assert.equal(counter.status.textContent, 'خطأ مؤقت');
+  assert.equal(counter.button.disabled, false);
+  assert.equal(counter.dataset.viewReported, 'true');
+});
+
+test('like persistence rejects corrupt and non-array storage values', () => {
+  const storage = new FakeStorage();
+  storage.setItem('aia-liked-articles-v1', '{broken');
+  assert.deepEqual([...readLikedSlugs(storage)], []);
+  storage.setItem('aia-liked-articles-v1', JSON.stringify(['valid', 4, null]));
+  assert.deepEqual([...readLikedSlugs(storage)], ['valid']);
+});
+
+test('blocked local storage does not duplicate or disable a successful like', async () => {
+  const counter = new FakeCounter('article');
+  const root = new FakeRoot([counter]);
+  const storage = {
+    getItem() { throw new Error('blocked'); },
+    setItem() { throw new Error('blocked'); },
+  };
+  let writes = 0;
+  const fetcher = async (url) => {
+    if (url.endsWith('/stats/batch')) return response({ article: { likes: 2, views: 3 } });
+    writes += 1;
+    return response({ count: 3 });
+  };
+  await bindLiveCounters(root, fetcher, storage);
+  await counter.button.click();
+  assert.equal(writes, 1);
+  assert.equal(counter.likes.textContent, '3');
+  assert.equal(counter.button.getAttribute('aria-pressed'), 'true');
+  assert.equal(counter.button.disabled, false);
+});
+
+test('counter requests time out without retrying an ambiguous operation', async () => {
+  let calls = 0;
+  const hanging = (_url, options) => {
+    calls += 1;
+    return new Promise((_resolve, reject) => options.signal.addEventListener('abort', () => reject(options.signal.reason)));
+  };
+  await assert.rejects(fetchCounterStats('https://api.example.test', ['article'], hanging, 5));
+  assert.equal(calls, 1);
+});
+
+test('only article layouts track views and translated publications retain exact legacy slugs', async () => {
+  const layout = await fs.readFile('src/layouts/BlogPostLayout.astro', 'utf8');
+  const card = await fs.readFile('src/components/BlogCard.astro', 'utf8');
+  assert.match(layout, /LikeViewCounter[^>]*trackView/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(card, /trackView/);
+
+  const groups = new Map();
+  for (const file of await fg('src/content/blog/**/*.{md,mdx}')) {
+    const frontmatter = matter(await fs.readFile(file, 'utf8')).data;
+    if (!frontmatter.translationKey || frontmatter.draft) continue;
+    const entries = groups.get(frontmatter.translationKey) ?? [];
+    entries.push({ lang: frontmatter.lang, slug: frontmatter.slug, file: path.basename(file) });
+    groups.set(frontmatter.translationKey, entries);
+  }
+  const multilingual = [...groups.values()].filter((entries) => entries.length > 1);
+  assert.ok(multilingual.some((entries) => new Set(entries.map(({ lang }) => lang)).size === 3));
+  for (const entries of multilingual) {
+    assert.equal(new Set(entries.map(({ slug }) => slug)).size, 1, JSON.stringify(entries));
+  }
+});
diff --git a/www/tools/deploy.mjs b/www/tools/deploy.mjs
index 7d6a1f8..5c49ae0 100644
--- a/www/tools/deploy.mjs
+++ b/www/tools/deploy.mjs
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ function validationEnvironment() {
 async function executeBuild(buildEnv) {
   const testEnv = validationEnvironment();
   run('npm', ['run', 'check'], { env: testEnv });
-  run('node', ['--experimental-strip-types', '--test', 'tools/jotform-form-a.test.mjs', 'tools/service-portal.test.mjs', 'tools/phase10-artifact.test.mjs'], { env: testEnv });
+  run('node', ['--experimental-strip-types', '--test', 'tools/jotform-form-a.test.mjs', 'tools/service-portal.test.mjs', 'tools/phase10-artifact.test.mjs', 'tools/counters.test.mjs'], { env: testEnv });
   run('npm', ['run', 'test:publication'], { env: testEnv });
   run('npm', ['run', 'audit:links'], { env: testEnv });
   run('npm', ['run', 'audit:images'], { env: testEnv });
@@ -187,10 +187,10 @@ async function main() {
     } else portal = await syntheticPayload(temporary);
     if (!options.dryRun && portal.synthetic) fail('A real deployment requires AIA_PORTAL_PRODUCTION_CIPHERTEXT_FILE');
     if (!options.dryRun && !options.confirm) fail('Refusing to upload without --confirm; use --dry-run for local verification');
-    const env = { ...process.env, PUBLIC_ALLOW_INDEXING: 'true', PUBLIC_AIA_FORMS_MODE: 'live', PUBLIC_COUNTERS_MODE: 'off', AIA_PORTAL_PRODUCTION_APPROVED: 'true', AIA_PORTAL_PRODUCTION_CIPHERTEXT_FILE: portal.file, AIA_PORTAL_LOCAL_PREVIEW_APPROVED: 'false' };
+    const env = { ...process.env, PUBLIC_ALLOW_INDEXING: 'true', PUBLIC_AIA_FORMS_MODE: 'live', PUBLIC_COUNTERS_MODE: 'live', PUBLIC_AIA_API_BASE: 'https://api.azinstitute4autism.com', PUBLIC_COUNTERS_LIVE_APPROVED: 'true', AIA_PORTAL_PRODUCTION_APPROVED: 'true', AIA_PORTAL_PRODUCTION_CIPHERTEXT_FILE: portal.file, AIA_PORTAL_LOCAL_PREVIEW_APPROVED: 'false' };
     await executeBuild(env);
     const portalSha256 = sha256(Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(portal.payload)));
-    const artifact = await verifyArtifact(path.join(toolRoot, 'dist'), 'indexing', 'live', { mode: portal.synthetic ? 'synthetic' : 'production', sha256: portal.synthetic ? undefined : portalSha256 });
+    const artifact = await verifyArtifact(path.join(toolRoot, 'dist'), 'indexing', 'live', { mode: portal.synthetic ? 'synthetic' : 'production', sha256: portal.synthetic ? undefined : portalSha256 }, 'live');
     if (!artifact.passed) fail(`Artifact verification failed: ${artifact.errors.join('; ')}`);
     const manifest = await releaseManifest(path.join(toolRoot, 'dist'), sha);
     const manifestFile = path.join(temporary, `aia-site-${sha}.manifest.json`);
diff --git a/www/tools/phase10-artifact-verify.mjs b/www/tools/phase10-artifact-verify.mjs
index 820800e..d54a2ec 100644
--- a/www/tools/phase10-artifact-verify.mjs
+++ b/www/tools/phase10-artifact-verify.mjs
@@ -85,20 +85,25 @@ function formAAdapters(html) {
   return [...html.matchAll(/<section\b[^>]*\bdata-jotform-form-a\b[^>]*>/gi)].map((match) => match[0]);
 }
 
-function unsafeSignals(html, allowApprovedFormA = false) {
+function unsafeSignals(html, allowApprovedFormA = false, allowApprovedCounters = false) {
   const signals = [];
   if (!allowApprovedFormA && /<iframe\b[^>]*\bsrc=["'][^"']*jotform/i.test(html)) signals.push('active Jotform iframe');
   if (!allowApprovedFormA && /262946078314059/i.test(html)) signals.push('disabled Form A identifier');
   if (/<script\b[^>]*\bsrc=["'][^"']*(?:jotform|googletagmanager|google-analytics|doubleclick)/i.test(html)) signals.push('active vendor tracking/form script');
   if (!allowApprovedFormA && /data-(?:form|forms)-mode=["']live["']/i.test(html)) signals.push('live form mode');
-  if (/api\.azinstitute4autism\.com/i.test(html)) signals.push('production API origin');
+  const counterReviewed = allowApprovedCounters
+    ? html.replace(/<div\b[^>]*\bdata-counter\b[^>]*>/gi, (tag) =>
+      tag.replace('data-api-base="https://api.azinstitute4autism.com"', ''))
+    : html;
+  if (/api\.azinstitute4autism\.com/i.test(counterReviewed)) signals.push('production API origin');
   if (/AIza[0-9A-Za-z_-]{20,}|-----BEGIN (?:RSA|OPENSSH|EC) PRIVATE\sKEY-----|(?:api[_-]?key|secret|password)\s*[:=]/i.test(html)) signals.push('credential-like content');
   return signals;
 }
 
-export async function verifyArtifact(root, mode = 'staging', forms = 'live', portal = { mode: 'none' }) {
+export async function verifyArtifact(root, mode = 'staging', forms = 'live', portal = { mode: 'none' }, counters = 'off') {
   if (!['staging', 'indexing'].includes(mode)) throw new Error('Artifact mode must be staging or indexing; form availability is selected separately with --forms=live|off|mock.');
   if (!['live', 'off', 'mock'].includes(forms)) throw new Error('Artifact forms must be live, off, or mock.');
+  if (!['live', 'off', 'mock'].includes(counters)) throw new Error('Artifact counters must be live, off, or mock.');
   if (!portal || !['none', 'synthetic', 'production'].includes(portal.mode)) throw new Error('Portal artifact mode must be none, synthetic, or production.');
   if (portal.mode === 'production' && (!/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/.test(portal.sha256 ?? '') || mode !== 'indexing')) throw new Error('Production portal verification requires indexing mode and its expected payload SHA-256.');
   const formAEnabled = forms === 'live';
@@ -115,6 +120,7 @@ export async function verifyArtifact(root, mode = 'staging', forms = 'live', por
   let secretSignals = [];
   let formAIframes = 0;
   let deferredFormAIframes = 0;
+  let counterInstances = 0;
 
   for (const file of htmlFiles) {
     const html = await readText(file);
@@ -127,7 +133,20 @@ export async function verifyArtifact(root, mode = 'staging', forms = 'live', por
     const trailingSlashUrls = rootRelativeUrls(html).filter(hasTerminalSlash);
     const expectedFormAUrl = formAEnabled ? staticFormAUrls.get(route) : undefined;
     const expectedDeferredFormAUrl = formAEnabled ? deferredFormAUrls.get(route) : undefined;
-    const signals = unsafeSignals(html, formAEnabled);
+    const signals = unsafeSignals(html, formAEnabled, counters === 'live');
+    const countersOnPage = [...html.matchAll(/<div\b[^>]*\bdata-counter\b[^>]*>/gi)].map((match) => match[0]);
+    for (const counter of countersOnPage) {
+      if (counters === 'live') {
+        if (!counter.includes('data-counter-mode="live"')
+            || !counter.includes('data-api-base="https://api.azinstitute4autism.com"')) {
+          errors.push(`${route}: live counter lacks the approved mode or API origin`);
+        }
+      } else if (counter.includes('data-counter-mode="live"')
+          || counter.includes('data-api-base="https://api.azinstitute4autism.com"')) {
+        errors.push(`${route}: live counter appears in a ${counters} artifact`);
+      }
+    }
+    counterInstances += countersOnPage.length;
     const jotformFrames = iframeSources(html).filter((src) => {
       try {
         return new URL(src).origin === 'https://form.jotform.com';
@@ -212,6 +231,7 @@ export async function verifyArtifact(root, mode = 'staging', forms = 'live', por
     if (reviewIndex) errors.push('indexing-enabled artifact contains staging-only /lp review index');
   }
   if (activeForms) errors.push(`found ${activeForms} non-search native form action(s)`);
+  if (counters === 'live' && counterInstances === 0) errors.push('live artifact contains no article counters');
   if (secretSignals.length) errors.push(`unsafe artifact signals: ${JSON.stringify(secretSignals)}`);
 
   const files = (await fg('**/*', { cwd: root, absolute: true, onlyFiles: true })).sort();
@@ -241,6 +261,7 @@ export async function verifyArtifact(root, mode = 'staging', forms = 'live', por
   return {
     mode,
     forms,
+    counters,
     portal: portal.mode,
     htmlRoutes: htmlFiles.length,
     sitemapUrls: sitemapRoutes.length,
@@ -264,7 +285,8 @@ if (process.argv[1] && path.resolve(process.argv[1]) === path.resolve(new URL(im
   const forms = process.argv.find((arg) => arg.startsWith('--forms='))?.slice('--forms='.length) ?? 'live';
   const portalMode = process.argv.find((arg) => arg.startsWith('--portal='))?.slice('--portal='.length) ?? 'none';
   const portalSha256 = process.argv.find((arg) => arg.startsWith('--portal-sha256='))?.slice('--portal-sha256='.length);
-  const result = await verifyArtifact(path.resolve(root), mode, forms, { mode: portalMode, sha256: portalSha256 });
+  const counters = process.argv.find((arg) => arg.startsWith('--counters='))?.slice('--counters='.length) ?? 'off';
+  const result = await verifyArtifact(path.resolve(root), mode, forms, { mode: portalMode, sha256: portalSha256 }, counters);
   console.log(JSON.stringify(result, null, 2));
   if (!result.passed) process.exitCode = 1;
 }
diff --git a/www/tools/phase10-artifact.test.mjs b/www/tools/phase10-artifact.test.mjs
index f689e8b..f292dbf 100644
--- a/www/tools/phase10-artifact.test.mjs
+++ b/www/tools/phase10-artifact.test.mjs
@@ -110,6 +110,19 @@ test('artifact rejects production API origin even when Form A is approved', asyn
   assert.ok(result.errors.some((error) => error.includes('unsafe artifact signals')));
 });
 
+test('live counters allow only the reviewed API origin and explicit live mode', async () => {
+  const root = await fixture('indexing');
+  await fs.appendFile(path.join(root, 'index.html'), '<div data-counter data-counter-mode="live" data-api-base="https://api.azinstitute4autism.com"></div>');
+  assert.equal((await verifyArtifact(root, 'indexing', 'live', { mode: 'none' }, 'live')).passed, true);
+  assert.equal((await verifyArtifact(root, 'indexing', 'live', { mode: 'none' }, 'off')).passed, false);
+
+  const wrong = await fixture('indexing');
+  await fs.appendFile(path.join(wrong, 'index.html'), '<div data-counter data-counter-mode="live" data-api-base="https://other.invalid"></div>');
+  const result = await verifyArtifact(wrong, 'indexing', 'live', { mode: 'none' }, 'live');
+  assert.equal(result.passed, false);
+  assert.ok(result.errors.some((error) => error.includes('approved mode or API origin')));
+});
+
 test('artifact rejects Form A identity outside the exact approved HTML routes', async () => {
   const root = await fixture('staging');
   await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, 'assets.js'), 'https://form.jotform.com/262946078314059?formContext=contact');
@@ -182,4 +195,5 @@ test('artifact rejects extra routes, wrong origins and prematurely loaded drawer
 test('obsolete artifact modes are rejected with separate publication/form guidance', async () => {
   await assert.rejects(verifyArtifact('/unused','isolated-test'), /--forms=live\|off\|mock/);
   await assert.rejects(verifyArtifact('/unused','staging','invalid'), /live, off, or mock/);
+  await assert.rejects(verifyArtifact('/unused','staging','live',{ mode: 'none' },'invalid'), /counters must be live/);
 });
diff --git a/www/tools/phase9-nonproduction.test.mjs b/www/tools/phase9-nonproduction.test.mjs
index f26731d..780f537 100644
--- a/www/tools/phase9-nonproduction.test.mjs
+++ b/www/tools/phase9-nonproduction.test.mjs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ test('counter configuration defaults off and requires explicit approval', () =>
   assert.equal(resolveCounterConfig('live', 'https://api.example.test', 'false').mode, 'off');
   assert.equal(resolveCounterConfig('live', 'https://api.example.test', 'true').mode, 'live');
   assert.equal(resolveCounterConfig('live', 'http://api.example.test', 'true').mode, 'off');
-  assert.equal(counterModeForRuntime(resolveCounterConfig('live', 'https://api.example.test', 'true')), 'off');
+  assert.equal(counterModeForRuntime(resolveCounterConfig('live', 'https://api.example.test', 'true')), 'live');
   assert.equal(resolveCounterConfig('mock', undefined, undefined).mode, 'mock');
 });
 
@@ -73,10 +73,15 @@ test('inactive source has no native form or live vendor destination', () => {
   assert.match(sources, /data-form-mode/);
 });
 
-test('counter source has no implicit production fallback or credentialed fetch', () => {
-  const source = fs.readFileSync('src/components/LikeViewCounter.astro', 'utf8');
-  assert.doesNotMatch(source, /api\.azinstitute4autism\.com/);
-  assert.doesNotMatch(source, /credentials:\s*['"]include/);
-  assert.doesNotMatch(source, /method:\s*['"](?:POST|DELETE)/);
-  assert.match(source, /data-counter-mode/);
+test('counter source requires explicit live configuration and omits credentials', () => {
+  const component = fs.readFileSync('src/components/LikeViewCounter.astro', 'utf8');
+  const runtime = fs.readFileSync('src/scripts/likes-views.ts', 'utf8');
+  const deploy = fs.readFileSync('tools/deploy.mjs', 'utf8');
+  assert.doesNotMatch(component, /api\.azinstitute4autism\.com/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(runtime, /credentials:\s*['"]include/);
+  assert.match(runtime, /credentials:\s*['"]omit/);
+  assert.match(component, /data-counter-mode/);
+  assert.match(deploy, /PUBLIC_COUNTERS_MODE:\s*'live'/);
+  assert.match(deploy, /PUBLIC_COUNTERS_LIVE_APPROVED:\s*'true'/);
+  assert.match(deploy, /PUBLIC_AIA_API_BASE:\s*'https:\/\/api\.azinstitute4autism\.com'/);
 });