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
26 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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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[–] agentTeiko@piefed.social 9 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

That's true my only question is with Linux its physically impossible to implement due to two questions.

When does Linux become an operating system? The answer is no one knows since it can be a full DE or a kennel and init system and a shell and there is no standard init system who do you regulate.

Who owns Linux? The answer is when you install Linux at that time you are also forking Linux so the answer is you own it. So its no one and everyone at the same time. If north Korea can use Linux and make their own distro and sanctions can't do anything about it. This law can't stop anyone at home or distro based in another Country from just ripping out any chuck of code that is put in by this law.

[–] progandy@feddit.org 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

If the current draft passes, it does something as well. Websites that want or have to rely on the signal will do it. Linux users will have to implement something if they want to access them. Parents that want to limit the access for their children on linux will be looking for implementations and use them. Everything happening without forcing the distributions.

[–] BartyDeCanter@piefed.social 1 points 8 hours ago

Have you read the bill? This is explicitly NOT aimed at websites but at apps. I’m not defending it, but be angry about what it actually is.