this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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Amen.
How would this even work? What is a “computer” in the definition of this law? Gun nuts like to say that if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. But if you outlaw computers… everyone will be an outlaw. your fucking microwave is a computer. In Corey’s book he restates many times that basically every computer we have is a Turing complete von Neumann machine, or rather all computers can run all software and the only limitations are those imposed by the software licenses…and time, really. I just don’t see how you could feasible restrict the use of all the computers already on the market. My PS2’s can run Linux and send emails… radio transmissions are easy to set up with point to point contact and encrypted messaging. It’s just an insanely stupid thing to attempt. I feel the same about the age verification at the OS layer thing. Maybe you can get Apple, Microsoft, and Google to put it in their OSes, but anyone with a Linux device or a VM will be able to avoid it very easily. It’s silly.
Every kitchen knife is a weapon.
You can make a law that you’re only allowed to modify your devices under certain condition.
This law doesn’t even need to be uniformly enforced. See the drug market. Millions of people do drugs even though it’s illegal. This provides a convenient way to oppress and silence people.
Cory was talking about years ago. The FSF helped prevent it, but this is the kind of meetings Microsoft is willing to have to lock down systems. I think the rest of the world is now aware of US Big Tech and hopefully will steer clear. But yeah, we almost were in deep trouble.
We are still in big trouble.
- AI datacenters. Buy up all the commodity parts, put consumer companies out of business by promising that AI shall become a more lucrative market than consumer computing could ever be. Users have to turn to cloud services, which all content produced is run though AI to gauge who you are and what you think. You rent it from them.
- enshittification of OSes. AI scanning in every crevice. Cloud saving even when you don’t want it.
- devices are all cloud connected now and IoT is just spyware. From TVs to dishwashers;; and you never know what might have a microphone.
- ”Save the children” age checks; but in reality you have to scan your face to ID yourself. Now they have a facial recognition profile from an up close view, linked with your name age and location, correlated with whatever other data originated from your local IP.
We didn’t dodge the bullet, we just got shot.
The AI stuff has real economic implications for sure, but it can't last. IMO anyway. I just try to stay focused on fostering the fediverse and staying away from all of that other crap. I think small local communities for social web is the real winner for us.
Yeah I get that, I just struggle to understand how this really could play out in a functional manner.
On windows, you pay to get their "windows signature" so your app can be installed. Right now they just tell you not to trust that app that isn't signed, next they will tell you "No!"
Idk. How are they going to enforce age verification? Probably can't. Doesn't stop them from trying.
Apple, Microsoft, and Google account for roughly 95% of all human user systems.
Yes. But does that satisfy this law? Is the Linux server that runs all the AWS nodes also required to be compliant? Or do you just get a free pass if you run Linux? Wouldn’t that incentivize anyone interested in porn to switch to Linux and undermine the hold those companies have on the personal computing market?
I think it kinda doesn't matter. If they can catch 95% of all users, that's pretty close to total victory. Well more than enough to shut out access from Linux systems for most things without causing public backlash.
My work computer right now is a fucking glorified email machine. So you now want companies to subscribe to an OS. No thanks I'll take my linux machine and be satisfied
If your Linux isn’t certified, you will break the law by connecting it to the internet.
ಠ_ಠ what are you a cop?
Neat clipper tool!
A member of my community made it! :) BlenderDumbass is pretty awesome like that! :)
@ozoned I don't see any legal basis for this (original:'ich sehe dazu keine rechtliche grundlage' ).I think that will never happen (original:'ich glaube das wird nie passieren' ). At least I hope so (original:'jedenfalls hoffe ich' ).
In the US, who the hell knows anymore. I found it an interesting story from Cory though. But I agree. I hope none of this comes to pass in the US. I think most of the world has given up on the US when it comes to tech, so probably not anywhere but here.
In what sense have they given up on the US re: tech?
The EU in their latest financial charter have put open source first. I can't remember, and don't have the time to find the article right now, but EU is basically demanding digital sovereignty and they're not accepting Microsoft putting data centers in the EU as the current US administration can't be trusted.