Gmail registration now requires scanning a QR code and sending a text message

Google’s Gmail signup now appears to include a QR-code step that opens a prefilled SMS verification flow.

Hacker News commenters said it is not an automatic text send, but a phone-verification prompt tied to account creation.

The change sparked debate over spam prevention versus added friction, account lockouts, and user privacy.

Some users suggested Google is pushing people toward Workspace or rival email providers like Proton and Microsoft.