246
Debian Project Leader Addresses New Age Verification Laws (linuxiac.com)
submitted 1 day ago by cm0002@lemy.lol to c/linux@programming.dev
86 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Debian Project Leader Andreas Tille has addressed the ongoing debate over age-verification laws and their potential impact on free software operating systems. Long story short: he clarified that Debian has not adopted a position and is awaiting legal analysis.

In his latest “Bits from the DPL” message, Tille stated that the main question is whether operating systems and package distribution mechanisms might be required to provide age-related information to applications.

He noted that Debian and other projects are discussing the issue, and that Software in the Public Interest, a non-profit corporation founded to act as a fiscal sponsor for organizations that develop open-source software and hardware, has begun seeking legal guidance.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] UNY0N@feddit.org 4 points 11 hours ago

I agree that that solves some problems, 100%. But I've seen the downward slide of society take hard-fought civil rights away for several decades now. It's never a sudden process, it always starts small and then slowly grows.

This is just the beginning, and it should be fought against with tooth and nail now, not just postponed so that we have to deal with this issue once the fascists already have some momentum.

[-] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 3 points 11 hours ago

Which is why I included the bit about fighting it out legally.

But I’ve seen the downward slide of society take hard-fought civil rights away for several decades now. It’s never a sudden process, it always starts small and then slowly grows.

That's what happens by adding features that comply with these stupid laws. Step one is NOT doing that. People can still use the software even if it doesn't comply. What is the government going to do break into everyone's home and look at their computers?

[-] UNY0N@feddit.org 1 points 11 hours ago

That's a good point.

this post was submitted on 04 Apr 2026
246 points (99.2% liked)

Linux

13142 readers
997 users here now

A community for everything relating to the GNU/Linux operating system (except the memes!)

Also, check out:

Original icon base courtesy of lewing@isc.tamu.edu and The GIMP

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Ategon@programming.dev
anzo@programming.dev
dwraf_of_ignorance@programming.dev