WhatAn open, interoperable identity-verification API that lets websites confirm users are real humans without depending on Google, Apple, or government ID — using privacy-preserving cryptographic proofs.
SignalCommenters observe that bot protection and identity verification are being quietly monopolized by a few tech giants, and that this trend will accelerate as AI agents flood the web — yet there is no neutral, privacy-respecting alternative for websites to verify humanness.
Why NowAI agents and bots have exploded in volume, making CAPTCHAs and phone-number verification insufficient; governments are beginning to discuss digital identity regulation, creating a window for a private-sector neutral standard before mandates arrive.
MarketEvery website needing bot protection or user verification; Cloudflare Turnstile, hCaptcha, and reCAPTCHA serve billions of verifications daily. A privacy-first alternative could charge SaaS fees to sites and capture meaningful share of a $1B+ market.
MoatNetwork effects — the more sites adopt the verification standard, the more valuable the user credential becomes, creating a two-sided lock-in similar to how reCAPTCHA became ubiquitous.
Gmail registration now requires scanning a QR code and sending a text messageView discussion ↗ · Article ↗ · 604 pts · May 11, 2026
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