this post was submitted on 26 May 2026
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Linux

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Linux Is Exempt From Colorado and California's Age Verification Laws - OSTechNix (ostechnix.com)
submitted 14 hours ago by ekZepp@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.world
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Summary

  • California (AB 1856) and Colorado (SB 26-051) have enacted laws requiring operating systems to implement device-level age verification but have specifically exempted open-source software.
  • These mandates require "Operating System Providers" to collect a user's age during account setup and share a non-identifiable "age signal" with third-party apps.
  • Following significant backlash from open source community, both states narrowed their definitions to exclude Linux and open source software distributed under licenses that allow users to copy, redistribute, and modify the code.
  • While a pure Linux distribution is exempt, platforms like Valve's SteamOS may still fall under the mandate. This is because SteamOS ships with a proprietary storefront and client.
  • Similarly, while Android is technically open source, the version shipped on most phones includes proprietary Google Play Services, which would likely trigger the mandate.
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[โ€“] ParlimentOfDoom@piefed.zip 86 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

The fact that they could do this exception proves the rest of it is not needed, either.

[โ€“] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 18 points 12 hours ago

Yeah what about the "harmful effects" of a minor for Linux computer looking at stuff social conservative arbitrarily desired they shouldn't? Bullshit law

They just carved in exception large enough to drive a truck through so that's exactly what we're going to do. Making Linux PCs readily available to anyone who wants one is now a moral imperative. It's time to start refurbishing old laptops and buying cheap single board computers and selling them on the street corner