You've seen the news about various US states (and even a US-wide bill!) for operating systems to implement age checking - but exemptions could cause headaches.
GamingOnLinux covered the exemptions that have made it in for the bills in Colorado and California, and now the dust is settling I've had a bit of time to look at the details more closely and think on it a bit more. And so, I'm left with even more concerns than before.
This isn't just a case of Linux and open source being special or somehow better, and not even getting into the debate of the "privacy for thee but not for me" angle due to more data collection - but a major concern on the actual implementation of all of it.
On Linux machines we already have DRM (Digital rights management) headaches from streaming platforms that limit things like resolution (or some just don't work at all), due to a lower level of Widevine support. And then there's also all the anti-cheat issues with games completely blocking Linux too. Now, we're moving into the land of age-checking on devices and operating systems which could potentially bring its own set of hurdles to overcome.
When all these laws get stamped and approved, what happens when you run an operating system (let's say Fedora or Ubuntu) and some web service or application is forced to do age checking and verification (or they face massive fines). Unless Linux distributions / desktop environments do end up implementing something that correctly adheres to these laws, what do you think will happen? Those services / apps could very likely just entirely block Linux in certain regions - or even all regions if it's Linux to prevent any issues for them.
That only adds to the list of issues that Desktop Linux faces when it comes to user adoption. And given how overall fragmented the Linux desktop is, we're in for quite a messy time. One distribution might work, another might not - that's just even more confusing for people picking between Linux distributions and desktop environments.
Being exempt from building or using the system doesn't save Linux and open source from being locked out of the room by companies who then require it by law. This also isn't US specific, other countries are working on these types of laws too.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let me know.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Wait, no. We just can't use the service.
Sure, it sounds easy, and I'm sure there'll be a *lot* of nuance on that topic in the near future, but it can be a chance to reassess what is essential. Is giving everything up for the privilege of enjoying a twitter thread full of hate and bots worth it? Who knows.
The main issue would be when official/actually mandatory digital services starts to do that. But is it really that different from the current issue with "excluded" builds of Android (or services that flat-out kicks Linux out based on UA)? If our various administrations decides that we need a device *they* control, I'll fight to the end for *them* to provide me such device; at their expense. It would definitely be an uphill battle, but my devices my software.
If I have to give up "sovereign digital identity" and go back to paper, then so be it. If the paper option isn't available anymore, then I guess I'll start planting turnips.
But that's over dramatization. There's a real way forward where all this nonsense blow over and only a handful of stupid services cares about it.
PlayingOnLinuxphone 2 hours ago
As I told, as more European countries rely on Linux as more important it will be to them to support competition which includes Linux itself or European companies start to do their own businesses to fit into the new service holes. If current companies want to dig their own graves, let them do so. No need for any fear. We are strong together - stronger than them. Look how Microsoft starts to advertise how they become better, just after a few percentages of people moved to Linux. We just need to follow our principles.
BUT.
Just as much as I actually love to not have rootkit-like anti cheat "solutions" available for my gaming machine (I consider them an RCE-in-the-making), I will be extremely happy to be excluded from those services that will need to ask my (admittedly ancient) age without a reasonable motive.
You're a bank? A credit card circuit? A governative agency issuing driving licenses? A municipality celebrating marriages? A weapons or liquor store? Other goods/services provider which must be reasonably sure I'm an adult? No? Then I don't need to do age-verified business with you, thank you. You can keep your pictures of kittens for yourself, I'll live happily without them.
spacemonkey 1 hour ago
When your are driving a car you have to wear a seatbelt, but when you're on a motorcycle nobody cares about your safety.
(In this metaphore an OS like Windows is a car. Linux, of course, is like driving a motorcycle)
mr-victory 1 hour ago
that correctly adheres to these lawsAfaiu, since we are exempted, we don't have to correctly adhere ie. we can just yes-man the checks. This doesn't even have to be done by the distribution maintainer, a 3rd party software can do it. Which makes the checks moot. Which hardens the checks so linux / foss can't implement them even if required. Oh shit this is like Play Integrity bypass in a new coat of sugar.
Liam Squires-Hand 18 minutes ago
Quoting: mr-victoryBut the end service / app / whatever still needs to show they are properly doing these checks. If lawmakers see a simple bypass on Linux, and the service allows it to happen - fines? It’s never as simple as you think.that correctly adheres to these lawsAfaiu, since we are exempted, we don't have to correctly adhere ie. we can just yes-man the checks.
I think, this should not be obligatory. Law vendors should only force to create standards to check age and force content delivers to use this API.
But...
There are debuggers. I can type:
gdb firefox
break read_age_of_user
run
...
set ?? user_age 888
I think this is enough.
The_Real_Bitterman 6 minutes ago
Official explanation "Bot protection" yeah ... let me tell you one thing, as someone working in E-Commerce, bots don't run by "Linux X11" user agents. They all mimic Windows 11 or 10. Only half backed bot protection is to check ASN ... but user agents? Ha! Morons...
Anyway. If they even get THIS wrong ... I fear the age of age verification.
Last edited by The_Real_Bitterman on 26 May 2026 at 4:04 pm UTC
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