Google's reCAPTCHA Now Requires Play Services, Blocking De-Googled Android Users
By
Rick Findlay
23d ago· 3 min readenNews
80/100
Golden Brown
Bagelometer↗
Toasted golden, schmeared with insight. Top of the rack.
Score80TypenewsSentimentnegative
Summary
Google's reCAPTCHA system now requires Android users to have Google Play Services (version 25.41.30 or higher) installed to pass verification. When the system flags suspicious activity, it replaces traditional image puzzles with a QR code scan that requires Play Services running in the background. This effectively blocks users of de-Googled Android phones (like those running GrapheneOS) from proving they are human, forcing them to run Google's proprietary software just to pass CAPTCHA challenges.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledGoogle has tied its next-generation reCAPTCHA system to Google Play Services on Android, meaning anyone running a de-Googled phone will automatically fail verification when the system decides to challenge them.
The requirement forces Android users to run Google's proprietary app framework version 25.41.30 or higher just to prove they're human.
When reCAPTCHA flags what it considers suspicious activity, it abandons the old image puzzles and demands you scan a QR code.
That scan requires Play Services running in the background, communicating with Google's servers.
The company that decides whether you're a bot now also requires you run its software to prove otherwise.
The company that decides whether you're a bot now also requires you run its software to prove otherwise.
