89
Systemd v261-rc1 is out with the 'birth date field' (lemmy.ca)
submitted 4 months ago* by to c/linux@lemmy.ml
108 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

For those interested on the question of age verification and GNU/Linux: be aware that Systemd v261-rc1 was recently released. It now implements an optional birth date field in the JSON user database (see second item under "Other changes").

The implementation of this field was prompted by age-verification or -attestation laws.

(Age-verification status of Open Source Operating Systems.)

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] -1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (26 children)

Just don't go to Debian

next day edit: Some of you have never been trolled before, and it shows.

You see, the real_name field has been part of the GECOS field since the 70s. Anyone who has any actual experience with Linux knows this.

There is some bit of drama about adding birth_date to systemd. The person that I'm responding to appears to subscribe to this drama due to the fact that they're recommending distros who either don't use systemd or, even more stupid, 'fork' the project to remove that field.

So, I made a meme from the point of view of one of these people, expressing outrage that Debian is asking for a user's Real Name... when only a newbie doesn't know these things.

And lest you think I'm doing the "I was caught being dumb so I'm claiming to be trolling" here's a comment of mine from over a month ago making this exact same joke, but more explicitly.

Congrats to the 3 people who got the joke.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 26 child comments
    •
  • [–] 11 points 4 months ago (3 children)

    Are you seriously suggesting that this forces you to enter your actual name?

    The field doesn't even distinguish between first/last name. It's just fluff as explained above. It's also not a systemd thing, or even Debian. This has existed for literally decades, and for just as long people put in whatever the fuck they want.

    But you got so mad you had to make a meme about it.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

    But you got so mad you had to make a meme about it.

    Some of you have never been trolled before, and it shows.

    You see, the real_name field has been part of the GECOS field since the 70s. Anyone who has any actual experience with Linux knows this.

    There is some bit of drama about adding birth_date to systemd. The person that I'm responding to appears to subscribe to this drama due to the fact that they're recommending distros who either don't use systemd or, even more stupid, 'fork' the project to remove that field.

    So, I made a meme from the point of view of one of these people, expressing outrage that Debian is asking for a user's Real Name... when only a newbie doesn't know these things.

    And lest you think I'm doing the "I was caught being dumb so I'm claiming to be trolling" here's a comment of mine from over a month ago making this exact same joke, but more explicitly.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 6 points 4 months ago (3 children)

    I never write my full name anyway, just my first name.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] -5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

    Yeah, sure you can just make up information and put in the field but the real problem is them asking in the first place.

    Next you're going to tell me that you can ignore this optional field in systemd.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 4 months ago (11 children)

    I don't get it.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 11 child comments
    •
  • [–] 10 points 4 months ago* (3 children)

    Debian daring to suggest that using your real name to identify yourself on the system is a reasonable choice for most people. So get the torches and pitchforks...

    Also don't tell those people about the fact that such fields for additional information (like real name, address etc) exist in most user-handling parts of their software since forever.

    You get asked for your real name when creating a new user for longer than Linux even exists. It's just that noone actually cares. But now that's suddenly an horrific anti privacy policy because the narrative demand that it is.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago

    The most reasonable choice now may not be the same forever. The optional indentifying fields themselves may have not have changed on Linux over the years but external changes in soceity has prompted this conversation.

    With nefarious "child safety" laws popping up the introduction of an optional age field is tone-deaf and suspect. There are other objections to SystemD but this personally pushed me over the edge to finally try out another Linux distro (from Mint).

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago

    It's always been thus, tho, I think?

    Seems like our times are troubled enough that identity is become a powderkeg issue, which I can understand.

    But I don't think Debian is forcing us to inscribe our legal names here.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [+] -15 points 4 months ago (6 children)

    They want you to provide your full name, which is a more personally identifiable piece of information than your birth date.

    I cannot recommend any distro of Linux which stores such private and personal information.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
    •
  • [–] 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 child)

    You're a bit behind the times. adduser has been asking for your full name since the dawn of Unix.

    Edit: and if you don't put in your full name, how will people know who they're fingering?!

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago

    But the field can contain anything at all, so if anonymity is the goal, you can still have that.

    This dialog isn't asking for a legal name, it's just suggesting using your real name because that's a pretty normal thing.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago (2 children)

    I have literally in the thousands of installations I've done, literally never once put any genuine information in there. Who does? Why would anyone? Every tech through the ages has asked for your name as a matter of convenience and formality. I don't know if I have ever put my actual info into any such field in the 40+ years - jeez close to 45 now, that I've been using computer tech.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago

    I have literally in the thousands of installations I’ve done, literally never once put any genuine information in there. Who does? Why would anyone?

    Private user ? Probably nobody, I agree. Commercial users ? Probably everyone, it is somewhat mandated.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent