89
Systemd v261-rc1 is out with the 'birth date field' (lemmy.ca)
submitted 3 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.)

top 50 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 89 points 3 months ago (2 children)

January 1st, 1970

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
    • [–] 66 points 3 months ago (27 children)

    Yes, right next to the fields for your full name and address, all of which are optional. It’s a total nothingburger.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 27 child comments
    •
  • [–] 27 points 3 months ago (11 children)

    Did you ignore the comment in the github where it, and I quote "Stores the user's birth date for age verification, as required by recent laws in California (AB-1043), Colorado (SB26-051), Brazil (Lei 15.211/2025), etc.". Yes it is optional NOW, but this is in preparation of laws that make it legally Mandatory. Don't down play this.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 11 child comments
    •
  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago (6 children)

    Miss me with this "slippery slope" BS.
    Having a standardized place to store the DOB is a good thing and it should have been there even before these laws.
    And if some users want to comply with those laws, then they should have a way to do it.
    If anybody actually tries to make this a hard requirement (which isn't going to happen), then you can bitch about it at that time.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
    •
    • load more comments (1 reply)
    • load more comments (4 replies)
    • load more comments (14 replies)
    [–] 32 points 3 months ago (8 children)

    It’s sad because at some point, when mainstream browsers will actually rely on systemd for that, website will block you.

    Given enough time and ressources, that age control will hit hard like DRM.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 8 child comments
    •
  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    And then people will find another way to do what they want. Similar as they did with the internet as it started. It was not always a commercial cesspool, it started as a very nerdy space and replaced TV as a primary source of information. We can do it again. History does not show a pattern of people submitting, but a history of revolution.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 10 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    The masses submit; the vast majority submits. When they start to bind it at the hardware level - when eventually a government issued ID becomes required to literally enable hardware to work, then we are all screwed. You can always make your own software but not so much make your own CPU.

    Then when they need to deal with the older tech aftermarket so they pass laws prohibiting older tech, it's all fucked.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
    • load more comments (5 replies)
    [–] 29 points 3 months ago (13 children)

    Could someone explain to me why numerous Linux development groups are jumping on board with this bullshit? This is I think the third such post I've read that a distro or however you call it, is integrating the age check. Since when does the Linux community get on board with Big Brother????

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 13 child comments
    •
  • [–] 34 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    A surprising amount of people in the open source community lean alt-right including the lead dev of systemd, some of FUTO, and others like hyprland, etc. Others like the actual dev that committed the age field code to systemd state they are apolitical but in reality are actually enabling those that want to do harm.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    This attack is no limited to "alt-right", it is across the political spectrum. Ex. there are plenty of lefty states implementing these laws.

    Authoritarian is still authoritarianism whether it's from left or right.

    (I'd also argue that software development is generally filled with leftists, I think the recent rise of prominent right-leaning developers is in reponse to many projects forgoing politically neutrality)

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
    load more comments (1 reply)
  • [–] 4 points 3 months ago

    Well I mean if you add an age field now and pretend it works you might get in front of laws which would require a shittier version. Now they can say "we have age verification".

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
    • load more comments (8 replies)
    [–] 28 points 3 months ago (2 children)

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
    • [–] 12 points 3 months ago (4 children)

    This is the end. Everyone switch to FreeBSD.

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

    Is the default value set to "True"?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
    • load more comments (1 reply)
    load more comments
    view more: next ›