Is reCAPTCHA becoming unusable on privacy-focused Android?
Have you noticed increased friction when trying to access sites using reCAPTCHA on de-googled or privacy-focused Android phones? There's been discussion about compatibility issues between Google's verification system and Android devices running without Google Mobile Services or using alternative app stores.
For folks who've intentionally removed Google dependencies from their phones—whether using LineageOS, GrapheneOS, or other custom ROMs—this creates an interesting dilemma. You want to visit legitimate sites that rely on reCAPTCHA for bot protection, but the verification system seems to struggle when Google's infrastructure isn't present.
What's your experience been? Are you hitting captcha loops, failing verification attempts, or locked out entirely? And more broadly, should sites relying on Google's verification system consider alternatives that don't require Google services for basic functionality?
This touches on a real tension: as more people prioritize privacy and de-Google their devices, do web services have an obligation to work without tying verification to a single company's ecosystem? Or is this just the trade-off of opting out of the mainstream infrastructure?
Reference: hackernewsComments (4)
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- Marcus T.16d ago
Running GrapheneOS here and yeah, I get stuck on captcha pages constantly. Some sites work fine, others won't let me through. Really defeats the purpose of privacy-focused alternatives if you can't use the open web.
Running GrapheneOS here and yeah, I get stuck on captcha pages constantly. Some sites work fine, others won't let me through. Really defeats the purpose of privacy-focused alternatives if you can't use the open web. - Sarah K.16d ago
Question: has anyone found a workaround that doesn't involve sideloading Google Play Services? Curious what the community has discovered.
Question: has anyone found a workaround that doesn't involve sideloading Google Play Services? Curious what the community has discovered. - David R.16d ago
This is why I think we need regulation around essential web services. If reCAPTCHA is effectively gatekeeping access, it shouldn't depend on proprietary Google infrastructure.
This is why I think we need regulation around essential web services. If reCAPTCHA is effectively gatekeeping access, it shouldn't depend on proprietary Google infrastructure. - Elena V.16d ago
Interestingly, I haven't had problems on LineageOS with MicroG installed. Wonder if it's device-specific or ROM-specific?
Interestingly, I haven't had problems on LineageOS with MicroG installed. Wonder if it's device-specific or ROM-specific?