A CAPTCHA is a test placed on the end of online forms which is designed to verify that a website user is human and not spam. The standard CAPTCHA is a string of letters or numbers that is distorted so that only the human brain, and not a computer, can interpret it.
Frustrating for everyone, CAPTCHAs present a significant barrier for people with sensory impairment or cognitive disabilities such as dyslexia. Although audio CAPTCHAs are intended to provide access for users who are blind or vision impaired, the sounds they use are very rarely decipherable. Neither visual nor audio CAPTCHAs offer a solution for those who are deafblind.
While many people who produce websites view CAPTCHAs as a necessary evil, the reality is that they are no longer needed. The World Wide Web Consortium, which sets international best practice for websites, has stated that CAPTCHAs should be avoided. There are many alternatives, such as email verification, that avoid discriminating against disabled users.
Now, Wayne Hawkins from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has started a petition on Change.org calling on companies such as Google, Microsoft and Facebook to lead the way in phasing out CAPTCHAs from their products.
“I’m constantly frustrated when trying to book concert tickets online, contribute to online forums and email politicians through the contact forms on their websites – all because CAPTCHA is so inaccessible,” said Hawkins.
In the campaign’s first hours people from across Australia and the world have signed the petition. Citing his reason for signing, Ian Pearce said, “Like others, I can't see the letters and the audio option, if there is one, and if it works at all, is generally unintelligible, and so I'm locked out of sites until someone with sight can help. Quite discriminatory!”
Media Access Australia, along with ACCAN, Blind Citizens Australia, Able Australia and the Australian Deafblind Council, has signed on as a supporter of the campaign. We encourage all our readers to sign the petition and share it amongst their friends and family.
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