Google reCAPTCHA changes appear to lock out Android users running de-Googled devices or ROMs

Google’s recent reCAPTCHA-related changes are reportedly causing problems for Android users on de-Googled devices, potentially blocking access to sites that rely on the service. Related discussions link the issue to Google Cloud’s newer fraud defense approach and concerns that it resembles earlier Web Environment Integrity proposals.

The incident highlights how anti-abuse systems can become de facto access controls when tied to platform trust signals. If services increasingly depend on device attestation, users of alternative Android distributions may face broader compatibility and web access issues.