A bill to mandate age verification for Linux users is facing heavy criticism and is being amended.
A bill to mandate age verification for Linux users is facing heavy criticism and is being amended.
https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20260526-age-verification-law-linux/
Publish Date: 2026-05-26 03:55:00
Source Domain: gigazine.net
May 26, 2026 16:55:00
A proposed amendment has been submitted to the California law requiring operating systems to verify users’ ages, which would exempt Linux and open-source operating systems. The law had drawn widespread opposition from the Linux community, which would have required OS providers to input users’ birth dates and ages. However, the amended bill now includes wording that excludes ‘operating systems distributed under a copy, redistribute, and modify license.’
Bill Text – AB-1856 Age verification signals: software applications and online services.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1856
California moves to exempt Linux from its upcoming age-verification law after backlash over forcing operating systems to collect users’ ages — amendment proposed by the same lawmaker who wrote the original law | Tom’s Hardware
https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/california-moves-to-exempt-linux-from-its-upcoming-age-verification-law-after-backlash-over-forcing-operating-systems-to-collect-users-ages-amendment-proposed-by-the-same-lawmaker-who-wrote-the-original-law
The Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) , enacted in California, USA, mandates that OS providers require users to enter their age information when setting up their OS account, and to pass age classification signals such as ‘under 13,’ ’13 to under 16,’ ’16 to under 18,’ and ’18 or older’ to app developers when an app is downloaded and launched. The Digital Age Assurance Act is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2027, and will impose civil penalties of up to $2,500 (approximately 400,000 yen) per affected child for accidental violations and up to $7,500 (approximately 1,200,000 yen) for intentional violations.
California introduces law requiring user age verification during OS setup, including Linux and SteamOS – GIGAZINE
Under the Digital Age Protection Act, an OS provider is broadly defined as ‘anyone who…
