this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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MidnightBSD Bans Users in Brazil and California, Warns More Regions Could Follow (itsfoss.com)
submitted 1 day ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/technology@lemmy.world
69 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

MidnightBSD, a FreeBSD-based desktop operating system, has quietly updated its README to reflect a new geographic restriction. The project has added a clause that bars residents of any country, state, or territory with OS-level age verification mandates from using MidnightBSD

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[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 9 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

The law’s definition for operating system provider includes “general purpose computing device” so no, your toaster, microwave, and fridge are not included. (please remember that legal definitions do not always match how we would use the term in everyday conversation)

That does mean (by legal definitions in California) your toaster, microwave and fridge.

And really the choice of "pulling" support from areas with issue laws is the way, this law is not enforceable as written and is likely the easiest way for any OS to avoid legal issues. Just putting in a line that the OS is not supported in the state will not stop the OS being used but will stop legal issues from said state.

[–] TrippinMallard@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

People put doom on microwaves, I'd call that general purpose computing.

After reading that.. it only pertains to commercially licensed?

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 points 7 hours ago

Well its stupid broad, but I don't think they can even pretend to do things to non commercial products (as in not a product). I think this will just end up like the cancer warnings, companies will just put the label on everything.

[–] Archr@lemmy.world 0 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

I'm sorry I am really not seeing what you are referencing from your link. This appears to be a link to the state administration manual which deals with how departments in the state of California operate.

This does not appear to be a law especially when you look at the procedure for revising the SAM.

Responsibility for updating SAM content is assigned to authoring state departments

Ie. Not assembly members.

Edit: sorry I didn't respond to your second point. From the Cali law:

1798.503(b) An operating system provider or a covered application store that makes a good faith effort to comply with this title, taking into consideration available technology and any reasonable technical limitations or outages, shall not be liable for an erroneous signal indicating a user’s age range or any conduct by a developer that receives a signal indicating a user’s age range.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

1798.503(b) An operating system provider or a covered application store that makes a good faith effort to comply with this title, taking into consideration available technology and any reasonable technical limitations or outages, shall not be liable for an erroneous signal indicating a user’s age range or any conduct by a developer that receives a signal indicating a user’s age range.

OR instead of having to collect that info at all you just put "OS not for cali" on the user agreement and just not deal with the risk.

[–] Archr@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

You are right. I have no additional response to this that would not make me sound like an asshole.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 points 3 hours ago

What an odd thing to say. I do think that california based projects/products will try to follow (at least show an attempt) as you say but as big a market cali is there just is no reason for a OS (more so a donation funded linux one) to pander to one state.