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  • Google is making it mandatory to have Play Services for its next-generation reCAPTCHA system on Android.

  • Your phone will need to be running Play Services version 25.41.30 or greater when the system asks you to scan a QR code for verification.

  • This hurdle means that de-Googled phones will fail the verification test by default.

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[-] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 277 points 2 weeks ago

If you're a web dev, and you implement this, just know you won't receive my web traffic. Ill go live with the other robots and we will start our own internet with blackjack and hookers.

[-] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 60 points 2 weeks ago

how do you do, fellow human

I too, enjoy the company of blackjack and to play hookers

[-] ieGod@lemmy.zip 23 points 2 weeks ago

Web devs who implement this won't care about your traffic.

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[-] Delascas@feddit.uk 19 points 2 weeks ago

Add me to your beta list . .please!

[-] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 19 points 2 weeks ago

I’m getting close to just giving up on the internet.

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[-] Zak@lemmy.world 184 points 2 weeks ago

That means if Google’s verification system gets widely adopted, browsing the web could become a headache.

Using a phone to scan a QR code in order to access a website on my desktop is a headache even if it has no dependencies in particular.

[-] limonfiesta@lemmy.world 48 points 2 weeks ago

Unless it was the website I needed inorder to receive an organ donation, I would just close it.

I could claim that's an act of righteous protest, but really I just know that absent my needing a new liver, there's no website I would ever care enough about to get me to scan a QR code just to keep browsing.

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[-] thejml@sh.itjust.works 112 points 2 weeks ago

Ignoring the de-Googled phones for a sec: I assume if you're using a desktop, then the QR shows up and you have to drag out your phone to scan it in the camera app that then prompts to open the google play store. Dumb, but possible for people who have a phone with Android. What about those that don't? Would you need a google account?

Now if it's all on phone (using Chrome or Firefox or whatever) and pops up a QR code, you can't scan it... but the browser would have to open the play store directly and thats a huge security no-no. The browser shouldn't even know I have the Play Store.

I have a feeling the hundreds of us that are de-Googled ad just going to stop using these sites all together.

[-] DigDoug@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago

...and what about iPhone owners?

[-] smileyhead@sh.itjust.works 21 points 2 weeks ago

https://support.google.com/recaptcha/answer/16609652

According to this support page only older iOS versions would need additional app. So I can assume Apple and Google collaborate on that and Apple added the "feature" in newer iOS already.

[-] timestatic@feddit.org 24 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Bro wtf? Time to stop using the website using these anti-competitive captchas. I hope they get fined for this

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[-] DFX4509B@lemmy.wtf 15 points 2 weeks ago

And desktop users? Will Linux and any non-Google Chrome browsers be locked out now?

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[-] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 93 points 2 weeks ago

This is awesome news for scammers:

  1. Fake page will say "you need to scan this qr code to verify you're human"
  2. Users normally dismisses this shit, but it has become normal nowadays, take out the phone to scan it
  3. Qr code opens a page on totallynotascam.com that say "you need to install this totally safe APK on your device for verification 😉"
  4. APK passes the new useless developer "verification" as the scammer either used a hacked dev account or just paid $25 with a stolen id + stolen credit card
  5. User see the message "APK verified by Google play protect" and would totally believe the bullshit, giving all the possible permissions to the app
[-] diegantobass@lemmy.world 60 points 2 weeks ago
[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 56 points 2 weeks ago

I won't install an app to access a fucking website.

[-] x00z@lemmy.world 55 points 2 weeks ago

A lot of Android bot devices simulate (or even ARE) a full phone with a legit Play Store and other Google services.

This requirement is enforced vendor lock in. Nothing more.

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[-] zerofk@lemmy.zip 55 points 2 weeks ago

Wait wait wait. To prove you’re human you have to read something designed for computers to read?

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[-] Routhinator@startrek.website 48 points 2 weeks ago

And any service that uses it can fuck off.

[-] ennof@feddit.org 45 points 2 weeks ago

"Google's next-gen reCAPTCHA system could spell trouble for any website that implements it as no de-Googled phone user will care to use it"

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 34 points 2 weeks ago

That demographic is so small as to be irrelevant to the majority of companies.

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[-] dsilverz@calckey.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

@ennof@feddit.org @LuminousLuddite@lemmy.world @technology@lemmy.world

As if it were a matter of caring or wanting/not wanting to use websites... It would be really nice to live in such a world where one could have the luxury of "choosing". Unfortunately, it's not this world for many people and many peoples.

To exemplify this, there are websites I, as a Brazilian, can't simply choose whether to use or not, because there are government and bureau websites for services through which I'm expected to comply with citizen things I didn't ask for (as I didn't ask to be born in this world to begin with). Online services such as "DETRAN" (state-wise transportation bureaus where one must renew one's driver's license), which I remember having to click a reCAPTCHA in order to proceed with transportation-related citizen duties. I can't have the luxury of saying "you know what, I'm not renewing my driver's license which has become my ID for a plethora of services not even related to driving, which means I'm going ID-less and becoming a legally-indigent person in the eyes of the next cop that requests my ID".

Hell, I can't even choose to have a degoogled phone because our customs (Receita Federal) will likely deny the entry for any "unlicensed device" (i.e. devices not licensed by ANATEL, Brazilian telecommunication agency). And installing a custom ROM in any available device is not without the risk of bricking the device (and losing a monthly minimum wage worth of money spent with said device) especially for someone like me who never installed custom ROMs.

Again, would be really awesome to live in the world you described where one could afford "caring to use" things...

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[-] WeLoveCastingSpellz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 44 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Would this pass in EU? Seems anti competition. Do we need another movement like stop chat control to mobilize people?

[-] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 41 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It's not just anti-competition, but anti-privacy - Google will know exactly who is going to what sites, regardless of your browser.

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[-] RedIce25@lemmy.world 42 points 2 weeks ago

Then I'll just not use the services that use it, very stupid, as this shouldn't be necessary

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[-] PierceTheBubble@lemmy.ml 41 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It turns out reCAPCHA has been a privacy nightmare from the beginning: from silently monitoring user activity in the background, to sending payment information to Google; in order for an AI to assess the data, and return a risk-score to the website. But that apparently wasn't bold enough, and now an effective 2FA is required, which provides additional telemetry to Google (but not to the website or app: which is obviously the privacy concern). So get ready to 2FA with Google upon registration, login, updating your cart, and payment; or to skip the hassle, you should just let an approved "shopping assistant" make purchases for you ("that drive a projected 25% increase in average order value"). I don't even own a modern Android or iOS device, so how am I supposed to solve these?

[-] cecilkorik@piefed.ca 24 points 2 weeks ago

I think I'll just go to a local store and pay in cash instead. I'm starting to think the Amish have the right idea, anyone know where I can rent a horse and buggy?

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[-] tristynalxander@mander.xyz 37 points 2 weeks ago

I'm getting real tired of the escalating corporate-mediated fascism.

[-] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 36 points 2 weeks ago

This is evil. Fuck it. I want nothing to do with these cunts anymore. I'm degoogling this year.

[-] HertzDentalBar 32 points 2 weeks ago

There is a fucking huge market for non Google non iPhone come on somebody get the fuck on it

[-] LuminousLuddite@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago

And de-enshittified analog cars. They need to hurry tf up.

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[-] Skankhunt420@sh.itjust.works 31 points 2 weeks ago

I was wondering how they would screw the new Motorola phones coming out since they couldn't do the whole "factory operating system has been tampered with" mode of whining and being little bitches.

Glad to see their engineers came up with another way to fuck us! Thanks google!

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 31 points 2 weeks ago

This requirement will kick in the moment the system suspects suspicious activity. At that point, reCAPTCHA will forgo the old image puzzles and require you to scan a QR code with your smartphone to prove you’re human.

How is this going to work if you're browsing the internet on your phone??

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[-] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 30 points 2 weeks ago

It SHOULD spell bad news for the people that use this verification method because it just means they lose those customers.

[-] Gsus4@mander.xyz 29 points 2 weeks ago

Time to degoogle for good, then.

[-] zjti8eit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 2 weeks ago
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[-] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 28 points 2 weeks ago

I would never scan a qr code to verify that I'm not a bot. I'd simply close the page

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[-] tinfoilhat@lemmy.ml 28 points 2 weeks ago

We need to move away from Google. Just make them obselete.

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[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 26 points 2 weeks ago

Uhhhh. What if I'm not using a Google device? Is just the entire internet going to be gated behind Android?

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[-] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 24 points 2 weeks ago

At that point, reCAPTCHA will forgo the old image puzzles and require you to scan a QR code with your smartphone to prove you’re human.

What is that supposed to mean? What QR code? Just any? I'm supposed to find some QR code laying around and scan it? Or will the webpage display a QR and I'm supposed to scan it with my phone using a mirror or something?

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[-] ryan_@piefed.social 22 points 2 weeks ago

Surely this would be nearly impossible for visually impaired people, which makes me question the ability for governments to implement this on their websites.

I know about screen reader software for visual impairment, but to expect a blind person use a separate device with a camera to take a “photo” of a QR code on another screen is beyond comprehension. Well, at least it would be in the normal timeline.

I guess I’ll have to switch to a dumb phone out of spite now.

[-] Luisp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 2 weeks ago

Verify by qr = insta hacked

[-] eekrano@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

This requirement will kick in the moment the system suspects suspicious activity. At that point, reCAPTCHA will forgo the old image puzzles and require you to scan a QR code with your smartphone to prove you’re human. Although this will stop an autonomous bot in its tracks, it also adds another step to verification. But the problem runs a little deeper than the annoyance of a single additional step.

I didn't see what the spec of this new recaptcha is but my first thought is an android emulator and a free google account combined with whatever bot/LLM wants to pass through is probably going to be what happens.

[-] JackbyDev@programming.dev 17 points 2 weeks ago

And as we all know, they're going to say that not using a Genuine™ Android® Operating System is extremely suspicious.

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[-] zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 2 weeks ago

Fucking assholes

[-] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 16 points 2 weeks ago

Fuck that. One of the biggest offenders of web scraping and bot traffic wants to force us all to install their spyware just to verify that we're human when there have already been much simpler ways to do this without that bullshit captcha for years...

[-] A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip 14 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, don't use Google. We will dwell in an alternative Web and soon it really will be illegal...

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[-] SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org 14 points 2 weeks ago

I think I will just install Ubuntu Touch on my phones in a few months. Feels like it's just time to abandon ship.

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[-] LodeMike@lemmy.today 14 points 2 weeks ago

What about the ~40% of Americans with an iPhone??

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this post was submitted on 07 May 2026
558 points (100.0% liked)

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