this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2026
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Privacy
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Well, sure. But think more ahead.
The same mechanic is already proposed by Google to lock things you DO care about. They are talking QR code walls presented to desktop browsers. Where you have to scan a QR code on a "trusted" device to pass the wall. Trusted by google of course, not by you. They want it anywhere teh web requires "trust". Shopping, banking, access to gov services. Google has the muscle to drive it anywhere they want.
Ultimately that can put big parts of the web out of reach to your fav desktop browser. Ironfox? Waterfox? Boom, QR wall! Scan it on your google approved mobile device to proceeed! There would be fuck all your browser can do about it. Chain of trust required from a Google or Apple approved device. No chain of trust, no looky.
Would Goog/Appl ever go that far? IDK. I'm sure there would be anger. Maybe lawsuits. But think how tech illiterate ppl are now! Most ppl would not even realize anything was different! Their mass consumer devices still work. "Why are you using that weird browser on your nerd OS? It doesn't even let you shop or bank lololol!"
That ignorance is what are are up against.
I guess I will be forced into being a hermit as I get older. What a bunch of horseshit.
We'll be hermits together. All of us. And the hismits and the theymits too.
The QR code capchas are just stupid. Like the first rule of cybersecurity is to not click on random links or scan random QR codes. It would be way to easy for a malicious actor to make you scan a bad QR code.
For sure. It teaches bad habits.
Even aside from sec risks, I guess the extra friction of having to do it at all, would be part of driving ppl toward Google's ecosystem. That's the road that needs the least effort. Any other road is more dangerous and takes more effort.
Nah, I get it and I get this whole thing is getting worse by the day with everything. The age and identity verification crap, this crap with Firefox, the tracking and data collecting getting pushed more and more. Its all a bunch of bullshit, I get it. I was just making a joke that nobody wants the AI features anyway so not being able to use them on something like GrapheneOS wasn't a loss or matter to me in that specific area. But I get what you're saying. I, like anyone paying attention to this stuff, just wish it would go the fuck away.
Gotcha!
Anyway I gotta work on shrinking my spiel. I have friends who don't get this stuff at all. And I think what I wrote would make their eyes glaze over. I need a good, but brief and catchy way to put it.
When you figure it out, send me a copy so I can use it as a copypasta too.
Ok... but I'm only sending it to YOU in the daylight. :P
(Never played it, before my time, but I get the ref)
Lol thats hard to do for the people who don't know or care. Good luck, I gave up explaining to people.