CAPTCHA

CAPTCHA is an optional gate for new joins. When it is on, Lucy mutes the member until they solve a visual puzzle. It is off by default. Failure never bans on its own. What happens next is the group’s On fail policy.

Modes

Configure Mode under CAPTCHA in /settings:

Mode	Puzzle
off (default)	No challenge
random	Mix of puzzle styles
sequence	Tap the shown shapes in order
odd_one_out	Find the different symbol in a grid
count	Count the requested shape

Shapes include circle, square, triangle, diamond, heart, and star. Older hexagon answers still validate where relevant.

Delivery

Delivery	Behavior
inline (default)	Private-in-group challenge only the member sees
dm	Challenge in Lucy’s DMs, with a deep-link fallback button if the first DM is blocked

DM challenges open through /start verify_<token> when the member taps the private open button.

Limits and failure

• 10 minutes per challenge
• 3 attempts
• Exhausted attempts and timeouts follow the same On fail policy

On fail	Behavior
hold for review (default)	Mute, quarantine at full score with signal captcha_failed, and offer a button so the member can send one message to the admins. An open hold survives leave and rejoin.
retry after removal	Remove them for one minute. They may rejoin for a new puzzle. No admin card.

No automatic lasting ban from CAPTCHA alone. Ban on the card is still a human verdict.

While a challenge is open, the member stays muted. Passing admits them (or keeps an existing moderation hold if one already applies). Direct-message delivery is the more reliable private surface if they need to contact admins after a hold. The location gate uses the same On fail policy.

Welcome interaction

When CAPTCHA is enabled, a configured welcome is held until the member passes. Failed CAPTCHAs and quarantined joins do not get a welcome. With CAPTCHA off, welcome follows the normal join path after detection. Details: Greetings.

Open CAPTCHA in /settings to set mode, delivery, and On fail.