Fwd: Google has an invisible menace

A dying bookstore's last wish; Big Tech's green problem; Treehouse minimalism

Greetings! Did you get a chance to watch the Democratic debates last night? There were a lot of candidates and (spoiler!) none of them won. Here's what's leading our site today…

Google's invisible menace

We've all tried to log into a website or submit a form only to be stuck clicking boxes of traffic lights or storefronts or bridges in a desperate attempt to finally convince the computer that we're not actually a bot.

For many years, this has been one of the predominant ways that reCaptcha—the Google-run internet bot detector—has determined whether a user is a bot or not. But last fall, Google launched a new version of the tool, with the goal of eliminating that annoying user experience entirely. Now, when you enter a form on a website that's using reCaptcha V3, you won't see the "I'm not a robot" checkbox, nor will you have to prove you know what a cat looks like. Instead, you won't see anything at all.

It's great for security—but not so great for your privacy.

—Katharine Schwab

Read More: Google's new reCAPTCHA has a dark side

Today's quote

Support your trans coworkers

"Trans people are coworkers just like any other, except we face elevated degrees of discrimination and harassment—both explicit and less so. On average, trans people are more likely to live in poverty and experience housing instability, which stems from other well-researched issues like trouble with stable employment, and leaving the school or post-secondary education that can lead to stable employment. All of these things are in some way attributable to how everyday life can be unlivable for many trans people due to others' behavior in these spaces, whether intentional or not."

—Lee Airton, PhD, author of Gender: Your Guide

www.fastcompany.com • Share

A MESSAGE FROM NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Why every business leader should care about childhood mental health

Since 1 in 5 children experience a serious mental illness, many families must deal with it. Talking openly about the issue not only helps to remove any stigma related to it, but it's also good business practice. If a child is struggling with mental illness, it is sure to remain on a parent's mind throughout the workday. Nationwide's commitment to its associates is what makes the company's focus on mental health a natural fit. And it's why the company supports On Our Sleeves, a national movement dedicated to raising awareness of and addressing the stigma around childhood mental illness.

www.fastcompany.com • Share

22 days until the Moon:

GI Joe: a real lunar hero

We're counting down the days until the 50th anniversary of the first moonwalk. Here's today's look into space history …

It turns out, there weren't supposed to be cars on the Moon—until an ingenious design and a killer demo made it happen. It's all thanks to two enterprising General Motors engineers, who got a little extra help from an Astronaut GI Joe doll.

www.fastcompany.com • Share

Today's page-turner:

What if local bookstores got Amazon-level respect from governments?

In New York City's Long Island City neighborhood, down the road from where Amazon tried (and failed) to build a "second headquarters," a bookstore owner is claiming that, despite solid business, he'll have to close unless the local government steps in to help.

www.fastcompany.com • Share

Today's Earth-saving solution:

Big Tech's role in the climate crisis

As the fight against climate change heats up, the current energy-cutting commitments announced by the big tech companies are simply not enough to make an impact on a widening emissions gap. These companies have to do better—and they have the resources to do so.

www.fastcompany.com • Share

More from us: