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submitted 2 months ago by Lisk91@sh.itjust.works to c/linux@lemmy.world

The coordinated effort worked. When lawmakers finalized Colorado SB26-051, they added Section 6-30-105(e) to the text. This specific clause waives compliance for operating systems and applications distributed under licenses that allow copying, modifying, and redistributing without platform-imposed technical restrictions. Why the Section 6-30-105(e) Exemption Protects Decentralized Tech

This exemption establishes a formal legislative precedent for the tech industry. It legally shields free and open-source operating systems from hardware-level age attestation laws that closed ecosystems like iOS and Windows will soon have to follow.

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[-] yesman@lemmy.world 149 points 2 months ago

It's unenforceable on Linux. A Linux user can simply remove or modify any code running on their machine. Fedora, Debian, and Arch can't make a user verify their age any more than they can force you to use Gnome. It's kinda the whole point of FOSS.

[-] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 29 points 2 months ago

There is a very easy way to force linux users to enforce this. However, I won't give it away here, because as far as I can tell the current law makers are clueless.

And I don't want to give them clues.

[-] potatoguy@mbin.potato-guy.space 28 points 2 months ago

I'm already seeing that in a year or two, we're getting blocked on websites or electron applications because of age verification just like in android with Google Play Services. Like use age verification software or get blocked for 99% the internet.

They don't even need to turn it into law.

[-] Coldcell@sh.itjust.works 23 points 2 months ago

Honestly the faster they try to lock us out of the web the sooner we can get a second, freer web with card games and prostitution.

[-] comrade_twisty@feddit.org 7 points 2 months ago

So just like the old net before Google, Meta and Amazon :)

[-] FudgyMcTubbs@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

"Like putting too much air in a balloon!"

[-] quips@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 months ago

Blackjack and hookers for 500 please

[-] fushuan@piefed.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 months ago

Whatever device based verification those websites or electron apps were communicating with can be spoofed in a system where you have complete control.

Games are cracked in weeks at most, don't you think that whatever secure communication is established won't be cracked lightning fast by the whole FOSS community? Once the "secure communication" between local apps is broken, a third package can mitm that shit easily. It's a local environment.

[-] SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml 19 points 2 months ago

Our current law makers are still debating if freeing the slaves was a good idea. That's how far behind they are.

[-] youcantreadthis@quokk.au 6 points 2 months ago

Behind or ahead? Maybe we shouldn't respect the laws they make?

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago

I am very glad that you have strategically selected which parts of your mind to lose.

[-] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago

I'm going to argue that you share it because one thing you can count on is very determined nerds to defeat it.

Every time legislators tried to enforce some sort of dystopian thing, developers saw it as damage and routed around it.

[-] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 months ago

You're not wrong, security through obscurity eventually fails. In this case however, time counts, the longer it can be cut off, the more chance of some sanity returning, of backlash building politically. The time to route around is after a law is made, preferably as flawed a law as possible.

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[-] bhamlin@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

And that's the whole point of the amendment to that law. Their congress critters were enlightened on the futility of such an endeavor. Next is California.

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[-] pglpm@lemmy.ca 78 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

How some Linux developers defeated (for now) the new OS age-verification laws. Long live those Linux developers, who "heavily criticized the mandates", made public statements, and contacted the legislators.

Because other Linux developers, instead, immediately bent over backwards to start implementing changes towards accommodating those laws; for sure they didn't heavily criticize the mandates, nor make public statements, nor contact the legislators.

[-] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 31 points 2 months ago

They defeated one of the laws in one jurisdiction. The California law is still in place, international laws are still in place, and federal laws are being advanced.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 14 points 2 months ago

Let's not misdirect peoples anger over age verification

The blame for age verification rests solely on the legislative bodies and the governors who didn't immediately veto it.

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[-] fushuan@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago

The first thing on the post you linked is the systemd change which adds a new number field in a completely user controlled local environment where they can write anything they want.

Oh nooooo... ಠ_ಠ

[-] RumRunningDevil@lemmy.zip 17 points 2 months ago

Oh come on we know how this works. Age verification is a prelude to digital ID and that "totally optional user field" is a prelude to something not optional. The current incarnation of that PR is optional and user controlled but it leaves us open to more and more.

Never give them an inch

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[-] floofloof@lemmy.ca 73 points 2 months ago

From the linked System76 blog:

New York’s proposed Senate Bill S8102A requires adults to prove they’re adults to use a computer, exercise bike, smart watch, or car if the device is internet enabled with app ecosystems. The bill explicitly forbids self-reporting and leaves the allowed methods to regulations written by the Attorney General. Practical methods for a bill of such extreme breadth would require, in many instances, providing private information to a third-party just to use a computer at all. Privacy disappears.

That's appalling, and NY won't be the only government trying it. This is going to be one of those battles we need to fight again and again.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 months ago

It also goes to show you who is running the government

[-] quips@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 months ago

And again and again we shall fight

[-] MisterD@lemmy.ca 37 points 2 months ago

Too bad this is moot. Google wants to deploy QR codes to prove you are human and not AI. The QR code is for your phone to prove you are real. Oops, your phone has a uuid and phone number and there goes your privacy.

[-] solxix@pawb.social 31 points 2 months ago

Google qr code = Ctrl+W and never visiting your site again.

[-] chunes@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Yup. VERY easy soultion.

[-] Cyber@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Can you give a source for this?

I'm presuming the QR uses the advertiser ID, which can be changed.

Phone number would be GDPR, so I don't think that can be used.

[-] FishFace@piefed.social 2 points 2 months ago

If you're providing it "voluntarily" it won't fall foul of GDPR.

[-] far_university1990@reddthat.com 3 points 2 months ago

What phone?

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 34 points 2 months ago

While I don't like age verification, I do have to give the System76 guys some credit for pushing for an exception

[-] GorGor@startrek.website 29 points 2 months ago

is there a similar contingency in the California law?

[-] BartyDeCanter@piefed.social 28 points 2 months ago

Not yet, but I’ve spoken with Wicks staffers responsible for writing the bill. They are very aware of the open source issues and working on getting changes implemented during the current legislative session.

[-] Libb@piefed.social 8 points 2 months ago

They are very aware of the open source issues and working on getting changes implemented during the current legislative session.

There is no 'open source issues'.

There is an absurd law issue that cannot be solved through 'exemptions' (which can always be removed later on) but by completely getting rid of the law itself. These are bad laws that aim to kill online privacy, with or without exemptions for our dear open source/Libre software.

[-] GorGor@startrek.website 1 points 2 months ago
[-] OwOarchist@pawb.social 26 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

You know ... now that open source is officially a legal loophole, I could see this making it more popular.

New reason to use Linux: You're 13 and you want to look at boobs on the internet, but other operating systems won't let you.

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[-] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 24 points 2 months ago

I must admit pessimism here, once this crap has the 99% (OK 95% or less for non-phones) accepting it, they'll come for linux (or the ISPs). When they came for the gays I didn't speak out... It's the thin end of the wedge (OK, extremely thick end). Colorado is not the world. The laws will be flawed, but continue to be amended, perfected, worldwide, because politicians as a class hate free speech, and anonymity protects free speech. The technically able will keep finding loopholes, but the vast majority will be left behind.

Probably there will be an exception made for corporations, after all, they have more need for privacy than the populace. /s

[-] osanna@lemmy.vg 1 points 2 months ago

i just don't want to live on this shitty planet anymore :/

[-] TachyonTele@piefed.social 2 points 2 months ago

The trick is understanding that no one does.

[-] quips@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 months ago

I do. Big Earth and Human fan right here

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[-] quips@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 months ago

Its so sad, I would have really loved to move to colorado

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this post was submitted on 14 May 2026
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