California proposes exempting open-source operating systems from age-verification law after Linux backlash
By
rbanffy
FeedBagel synthesis
· 2 sourcesCalifornia lawmakers have proposed an amendment to exempt most open-source operating systems from the state's Digital Age Assurance Act, following backlash from the Linux community. The original bill, AB 1856, would have required age verification for operating systems, app stores, and apps, with a scheduled effective date of January 1, 2027. According to coverage on Bluesky, the amendment would likely exempt mainstream Linux distributions like Debian, Fedora, and Ubuntu, though SteamOS could still potentially be affected. The same lawmaker who authored the original bill introduced the new amendment.
Hot, fresh, and worth queueing round the block for.
Summary
California lawmakers are backing away from a controversial age-verification bill (AB 1856) that alarmed Linux and open-source developers. A new amendment proposed by the same lawmaker who wrote the original bill would exempt most open-source operating systems from the state's Digital Age Assurance Act, which is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. This would likely exempt mainstream Linux distributions like Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, and Mint, though SteamOS could still potentially be affected.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledCalifornia lawmakers may be backing away from a controversial age-verification requirement bill that alarmed Linux and open-source developers earlier this year
A new amendment bill proposed exempting most open-source operating systems from the state's upcoming Digital Age Assurance Act
In practice, that would likely exempt most mainstream Linux distributions — including Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, and Mint — from compliance requirements scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027
You might also wanna read
California amendment may exempt Linux and open source OS from age verification law
California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October, requires age verification for operating system
theregister.com·5d ago
California's AB 1856: Open Source Exemption Offered But Age-Gating Expands to All Browsers and Websites
California's AB 1856 bill proposes exempting open source operating systems from the age-bracketing requirements of last year's AB 1043 (Digi
eff.org·2d ago