Google Tests Hand Gesture-Based reCAPTCHA
Google is testing a new reCAPTCHA system that uses hand gestures to verify users' humanity. The system, currently in a limited test, requests access to the user's webcam and asks them to perform various actions or gestures. If the user fails, the system switches back to traditional visual and audio challenges.
Key points
- Google is testing a new reCAPTCHA system that uses hand gestures for verification, analyzing videos of users' hands performing various actions or gestures.
- The system requires access to the user's webcam and extracts 'hand landmark data' from the video, mapping 21 hand-knuckle coordinates.
- If the user fails to complete the task, reCAPTCHA switches back to traditional visual and audio challenges.
- The system is part of Google Cloud Fraud Defense and is meant to catch automated account creation and credential stuffing.
- Testers have already defeated the system using a static stock photo of a hand, raising concerns about data collection and user privacy.
Google's new reCAPTCHA system has sparked controversy as it uses hand gestures to verify users' humanity. The system, currently in a limited test, requests access to the user's webcam and asks them to perform various actions or gestures. If the user fails, the system switches back to traditional visual and audio challenges.
The system is part of Google Cloud Fraud Defense and is meant to catch automated account creation and credential stuffing. However, testers have already defeated the system using a static stock photo of a hand, raising concerns about data collection and user privacy.
Google's documentation states that the footage is deleted once verification completes, that no audio is recorded, and that the video is never tied to a user's identity or shared with third parties. However, it is unclear what data is collected and how it is used, as it is stored under the Google Privacy Policy.
The introduction of this new system has sparked debate about the balance between security and user privacy. While it may be effective in catching automated accounts, it also raises concerns about the collection and use of user data.
Sources
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