California lawmakers unanimously pass Linux exemption from age-verification law — software distributed under the GPL, MIT, BSD, and Apache licenses are exempt
www.tomshardware.com
AB 1856 excludes open-source operating systems from the upcoming Digital Age Assurance Act.
  • 4am@lemmy.zip
    24·
    2 days ago

    I’m skeptical that this is a win, I think just means Linux will be “DRM’d” from using any services that require age verification.

    • schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works
      6·
      2 days ago

      Further, this is temporary. Anyone wanting to skirt the law will just use Linux, and eventually there will be a lot of public cases and this loophole will be closed with all the institutional support Microsoft, etc., can muster.

        • schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          2 days ago

          The law does not require photo ID uploads or facial recognition, with users instead simply self-reporting their age, setting AB 1043 apart from similar laws passed in Texas and Utah that require “commercially reasonable” verification methods, such as government-issued ID checks. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, who authored the bill, said this “avoids constitutional concerns by focusing strictly on age assurance, not content moderation,” in a press release. The bill passed both chambers unanimously, 76-0 in the Assembly and 38-0 in the Senate."

          This is legitimately hilarious.