Google is under fire from blind bloggers due to the implementation of a “captcha” at Blogger on April 12.
Google’s visual captcha requirement means that blind bloggers can no longer sign up for accounts without sighted assistance.
In an email to the Blog Herald, Joanie writes that “…the reason I am writing [to] you about this is because bloggers are not aware of this issue, and my writing about it in the blindness corner of the blogosphere is not enough to let people know that what seems like a great way to reduce spam is also a way to keep blind computer users from blogging…”
More information is available here. The case highlights the need to be mindful that in the rush to block comment spam and spam blogs, bloggers and blog hosts need to be aware that tools such as captcha’s can also block legitimate users from commenting on a blog, or creating a blog in the way it was intended.
The implementation of visual verification (CAPTCHA) without any alternative means of accessibility for the blind is nothing less than deliberately discriminatory once the practice continues after our attempts at educating the site’s developers.
Since the purpose of CAPTCHA is to differentiate between humans and computers (allowing the former while excluding the latter) inaccessible CAPTCHA represents a denial of our very humanity! We are humans whom just happen to be blind. We insistently urge Google and all similarly inaccessible companies to immediately remove their visual verification schemes, complete the necessary work to add accessibility then re-institute abuse prvention systems that do not deny equal participation to the blind!
This also blocks those of us with legitimate blogs. No explanation from the gods on Mount Olympus.
Ridiculus. Typical Google.