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CAPTCHAs don't prove you're human – they prove you're American (2017)

92 points · 90 comments · theanonymousone

  1. retired · · focus · HN ↗
    -Post removed as rate limiting on HN does not allow me to comment and keep the discussion going-

    Edit: Please stop commenting below as I can't reply anymore

    1. nephihaha · · focus · HN ↗
      Not really in some countries taxis are specific vehicle types and clearly branded. American ones are ordinary cars with slight modifications.
      1. retired · · focus · HN ↗
        And in that case the CAPTCHA would still work, as the vehicles are of the same type and have clear branding.
        1. onion2k · · focus · HN ↗
          Is 'identify all the similar cars?' a valid capcha though? Surely knowing that something is a taxi is the important part of the test, and a good capcha would through in a branded car that isn't a taxi, which non-Americans are far more likely to fail.

          Remember that the goal here is to test that a request isn't coming from a computer, and 'identify all the similar things in these images' is really easy for a computer.

      2. raverbashing · · focus · HN ↗
        "slight modifications" it's entirely

        In most places taxis can be identified as: having a specific color/color pattern and/or a ceiling fixture

        It is by design because you want taxis to stand out from other vehicles

    2. Havoc · · focus · HN ↗
      The fact that it can be deduced in some cases by some people is missing the point that a test of humanity shouldn't be country specific at all.

      >The ones with liveries on the side that are all the same color.

      Which is also not true for some countries...

    3. em-bee · · focus · HN ↗
      please don't be petty. you don't own the replies to your comment. you are not the only one who can keep the discussion going. others may continue to discuss as they like, and you will have your chance to add your comments in time. removing your comment after people replied to it is disruptive and is not welcome.
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