You literally cannot force Linux to do that

    by gameerderek

    31 Comments

    1. GrenchamReborn on

      Can not fathom why an OS needs age verification built in, like what even is the argument here? Porn sites? Sure, theres at least an argument to be made there. Hell, even web browsers. But the fucking OS???? The OS doesn’t serve content, an OS alone isn’t going to expose anyone to anything they don’t want or shouldnt be able to see. Seems like another extremely out of touch law made by someone who has no fucking clue how computers work

    2. There is no way they can enforce this. People will just not update their pcs, bypass the shit out of it or use Linux 

    3. Lawmakers do not understand technology and since law is designed to move slowly, tech will always be a step ahead.

      They can try, but it will only succeed for the users willing to comply. I’m sure people have already developed workarounds.

    4. If you read the bill, it looks like a huge nothingburger for publicity.

      The bare minimum requirement on the bill is for an OS to have some sort of account linked to age with no mention of any way to enforce or verify age. It’s basically too vague to enforce and doesn’t affect most people users who already have a Microsoft sccount.

    5. Damn they saw age verification becoming a thing and now they want to add it on anything. Soon your smart refrigerator requires age verification too

    6. Nearly every red state in america requires that you upload your drivers license to porn websites to watch so blue states decided to implement an unenforceable law requiring your OS to do that, which could only be something OEM manufacturers could implement. This would kind of only affect computers being sold with Linux built in which only really impacts companies like Tuxedo or System 76.

    7. Internal_Page_486 on

      I hope something like this doesn’t come to the UK too, we already have age verification for IOS 26.4 (beta) requiring driving licence or credit card (which i do not have) age verification for steam, requiring a credit card, which i do not have and now operating systems, probably requiring credit card or driving license

      Why i don’t have these? A lot of people don’t need a credit card in the UK and I’m not legally allowed to drive because of medical conditions

    8. Beaufort_The_Cat on

      Lol I mean it could probably just be “are you 16? Y/n”

      Looks like verification to me

    9. Pluviophilism on

      I looked it up and as far as I can tell, it looks like their age “verification” is just asking when your birthday is when you initially set it up. You don’t have to do anything else. You can just lie.

    10. Even if some distros comply you can always just edit the code and remove it, and recompile it

    11. I’m NAL, but I read the text of the law and my interpretation is that it only applies to operating systems that links accounts to an App Store, like windows and apple do. Since Linux does not do these things the law would not apply to them.

    12. Oss should say okay we won’t be supporting California. No sales or sw updates there. See what happens then xD.

    13. California doesn’t require age verification at all, don’t spread misinformation, ffs.

    14. It was never about protectuing children, its just a way for them to harvest data and create mass surveillance systems

    15. I fully expect many lawsuits to come from this massive overreach of a law. the surveylence state is already too strong as it is!

    16. Competitive_Lie2628 on

      You’re right, they can’t force the kernel… but they can harrass whatever distros are registered in the US

    17. overdose_of_cum on

      The whole thing is just dumb, its not one centralised thing like windows, its a kernel that powers most of the world’s digital infrastructure and thousands upon thousands of distros. An age check couldnt be enforced to begin with.

      Even if they *somehow* did enforce it, they’d still fail, as linux is open source, someone will just remove the age check and re-upload that modified version no matter how many times they try to take it down

    18. P0bodysNerfectly on

      California doing to most to be a nanny state still?
      I feel so sorry for y’all.
      That shit has to be annoying as fuck.

    19. Adventurous_Bobcat65 on

      Actually, what is the plan here in the unlikely event that a kid does put in his real birthday on his device, and then wants to play a game that’s rated older than his age and as a parent, I’m OK with it?

      Is there a pathway for us to email Governor Newsom and ask him for permission?

      Obviously it’s fine in reality, because my son is smart enough to not put in his real birthday (and I would completely back him on that), but god damn this is stupid.

    20. DemolisherBPB on

      It’s amazing how much these laws could be replaced by “Hey parent, fucking parent”

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