Google Broke reCAPTCHA for De-Googled Android Users

I’m already thinking about the broad implications of this and all the stuff surrounding Google, Play Services and Android.

Adoption of Google Play Services on Android has gotta be like, pretty unanimous. It’s:

• Pre-installed on all devices that pass Google’s certification process
• Required for access to the Google Play Store
• Essential for most Google services and many third-party apps
• In the near future, required* for app installs because Google Play Store (*you can go the long route to install other apps with a developer setting)

I find it pretty concerning that most Android devices today have Googles proprietary software installed. (which some can’t even be uninstalled through reasonable means, only disabled)

What do you guys think, does this affect the average Android user in terms of convenience, or is it just the usual “another small thing that’s easy to adopt and accept”?

I think that most people that have Google Play Services installed, are not going to oppose this since it doesn’t really affect them. Convenience doesn’t take a hit. It’s just another small thing that’s easy to get through, and one that doesn’t ruin or even affect the average Android users average day.

I hope the people choosing the frameworks they use in the future to protect their site will use something else than this Google offering of CAPTCHA.

Although hope might not be enough, might need to do some advocating as already suggested here

I also think that for Google, this is all about just reinforcing what they have already got done and enforced with the Android ecosystem. Even if it includes forcing an install of a software or two, or reinforcing the use-cases around said software, or making things really inconvenient for people that don’t want to use Google’s invasive proprietary software. The software, that from many perspectives, is only “needed” from an arbitrary need.

Android just doesn’t seem to be the same open-source ecosystem as it once was.

One thought too, this reCAPTCHA change might affect the use-cases that include things that make reCAPTCHA trip too, take VPN usage for example. Might even restrict internet access in some amounts.

Lets just say that this is one thing of many needing something else than Google-software-adoption-reinforcement! It’s great that the EU has a history of mostly stepping up here. When they do, Google is probably going to continue on the same road using their position to leverage their goals, whatever those goals may be. They have the resources, the built framework is already there, and for now, permitted for them to use as they need fit.