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283

Age Verification Laws Are Multiplying Like a Virus, and Your Linux Computer Might be Next (itsfoss.com)

submitted 2 days ago by Powderhorn@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org

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As of today, about half of all U.S. states have some form of age verification law around. Nine of those were passed in 2025 alone, covering everything from adult content sites to social media platforms to app stores.

Right now, California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) is all the rage right now, which targets not only websites and apps but also operating systems. Come January 1, 2027, every OS provider must collect a user's age at account setup and provide that data to app developers via a real-time API.

Colorado is also working on a near-identical bill, which we covered earlier.

The EFF's year-end review put it more bluntly: 2025 was "the year states chose surveillance over safety." The foundation's concern, which I concur with, is, where does this stop? Self-reported birthday today, government ID tomorrow? There appears to be no limit to these laws' overreach.

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[–] oatscoop@midwest.social 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

The offical linux shop, obviously -- though your local PC sales/repair shop can probably order you a copy. I understand that Linyos Torovoltos grew up under communism and originally couldn't legally sell Lunix, but the Soviets lost the cold war decades ago.

I'd rather spend a few bucks for a legitimate copy than risk installing some virus infested illegal version off some sketchy website.

[–] KyuubiNoKitsune@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I went to your second link and I think it gave me a virus. I keep having these verbal tics now.

[–] oatscoop@midwest.social 2 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Oh no, that's the first phase.

You need to get your computer to an A+ certified tech and have your OS reinstalled ASAP. If you delay you're looking at a lifetime of buying old Thinkpads off the Internet.