CAPTCHAs don't prove you're human – they prove you're American
3 hours ago
- CAPTCHAs assume knowledge of American culture, such as yellow taxis, specific coin names (dime, nickel), and terms like crosswalks and fire hydrants, making them difficult for non-Americans to pass.
- The author compares CAPTCHAs to culturally biased IQ tests that require familiarity with US currency, disadvantaging people from other countries.
- Commenters from various countries share examples of local currency nicknames and variations, highlighting the global nature of the problem.
- Even within the US, not all taxis are yellow, and CAPTCHAs often have ambiguous criteria (e.g., whether to include partial objects in images).
- The system fails to prove humanity; instead, it proves Americanness, alienating a majority of internet users worldwide.