Why are we still using G%§$e re-captcha?

[paulakreuzer]

When I joined MB almost a year ago it was necessary to send one’s personal data to G%§$e to create a Brainz account.

@paulakreuzer

Luckily @reosarevok helped me set up an account without having to do a captcha, as I am a big G%§$e-hater and blocked all their domains via hosts file which also blocks re-capchas.

I hope this goes against all that a free and open database foundation like MetaBrainz stands for, so I wonder why we are still doing it? When I open the register page in a private window I can see google.com in the list of trackers in the Privacy Badger addon.
The register page doesn’t say that the G%§$e privacy policy applies and our privacy policy page doesn’t mention G%§$e either - except for the jucky sponsored-by-bit on the bottom of the page. I doubt that is even legal. Most people who sign up for MB probably have no idea that by transcribing some wiggly text they are selling their soul to the devil falling victim to surveillance capitalism.

I’m sure the decision to stop using G%§$e analytics was not made for convenience, but out of principle, so can we please move to an alternative for re-Captcha too, like this, this or this? Thanks.

[Freso]

@paulakreuzer

our privacy policy page doesn’t mention G%§$e either

It does (specifically) mention reCAPTCHA though:

3. reCAPTCHA: Our account creation page loads third party content in order to prevent spammers from creating accounts.

@paulakreuzer

selling their soul to the devil

Please tone the hyperbole down. It’s fine to dislike big corporations and criticise them, but I feel like you’re going a bit overboard here.

@paulakreuzer

can we please move to an alternative for re-Captcha

I’ve filed a ticket on your behalf, which would be a first step for this:

MBS-10039

[paulakreuzer]

@Freso

Please tone the hyperbole down.

You’re absolutely right. I changed my words to something more factual.

@Freso

I’ve filed a ticket on your behalf, which would be a first step for this:

Thanks.

@InvisibleMan78

But then also be so consistent and demand MB to […]

I absolutely agree that none of these are good optics, but I have learned that it’s best to tackle one issue at a time. Also reCaptcha is the issue that makes all users be part of the system unknowingly while accepting money from big corporations and working with them in coding projects is mostly done knowingly and willingly. My intention is not to proselytize people who are willingly choosing to live a different lifestyle than me.

@InvisibleMan78

stop accepting the “$1500 or more per month” from Google

Also I’m trying to pick battles that I know I could maybe possibly win. If even the FSF is sponsored by G%§$e I don’t think I’ll be able to change anything here.

Here is a good read about that whole issue:

I was wrong about Google and Facebook: there’s nothing wrong with them (so...

[chaban]

Some feedback from IRC:

@TheUpdater

As there is no “contact form” or a simple mail address, could someone inform musicbrainz about their non-free captcha being not shown when using a PiHole so that many people can’t create an account and so can’t contribute, please?

I also don’t know who anybody in his right mind can use GOOGLE captcha but on the other hand speaks about freedom…

BTW, reCAPTCHA doesn’t stop spammers. It just makes it more costly, for others as well.

[Freso]

@TheUpdater

As there is no “contact form” or a simple mail address

@chaban

BTW, reCAPTCHA doesn’t stop spammers.

I’ve noted this before (I think e.g., during the 2018 summit, but my speakers are not working right now, so I can’t actually listen to verify), but the introduction of the captcha for new accounts marked a significant decrease in the amount of spam accounts getting created on MusicBrainz. Yes, it doesn’t completely eliminate them, but it’s drastically decreased them. Definitely not something I would want to do without at this point.