Google's next-gen reCAPTCHA system could spell trouble for de-Googled phones
Android Authority • • technology
Key Points:
- Google is making it mandatory for Android devices to have Play Services version 25.41.30 or higher to use its next-generation reCAPTCHA system, which requires scanning a QR code for verification.
- This new requirement will activate when suspicious activity is detected, replacing traditional image puzzles with QR code scans to prove the user is human.
- While this change will not affect most Android users with Google Play Services installed, it will significantly impact users of de-Googled phones, such as those running GrapheneOS, which lack Play Services.
- As a result, these de-Googled devices will fail reCAPTCHA verification by default, potentially making web browsing more difficult for users who prefer Google-free Android versions.
- The groundwork for this system was laid by Google in October last year, but the implications are only becoming widely recognized now.
