Privacy advocates slam reCAPTCHA update that they say locks out de-Googled phones

Google’s reCAPTCHA upgrade — rebranded as “Cloud Fraud Defense” — now uses a QR-code mobile verification that requires Google Play Services (v25.41.30+) or iOS 15+, effectively blocking access for “de-Googled” Android phones (GrapheneOS, CalyxOS). Privacy and crypto‑adjacent communities, including prominent figures like Jameson Lopp and Brave’s CEO, have criticized the move as anti‑competitive and likely to harm privacy‑focused users. Immediate market impact appears limited: Bitcoin was trading around $80.8k with minimal intraday movement, and major altcoins showed small percentage changes. However, the change could erode trust among privacy‑conscious users and create friction for web and crypto services that cater to them, with potential medium‑term implications for adoption of privacy tools and wallets.