California May Let Linux Bypass Age Check
The amendment would redefine operating system providers to exclude software that can be copied, redistributed and modified, leaving Windows and macOS covered.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Linux backlash leads to California law change on age verification — with the original lawmaker forced to make a humbling step back
OS vendors have been mandated to request use age brackets since late 2025, but Linux systems could be exempt if this amendment bill is enforced.
California may let Linux bypass age check
The kids are alright. Open source operating systems like Linux and FreeBSD may soon be exempt from California’s app and OS age verification requirements. Last October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) into law, which establishes age verification obligations for operating system providers, covered app stores, and application developers. Those distributing operating systems must provide "an accessible…
California redefines "operators of an operating system": legislators had to deal with the question of how open source communities should have examined the age of their users. In the US state of California, legislators are planning to change the law on age verification for operating systems. As Tom's hardware reports, open source operating systems would be replaced by the Digital Age Assurance
California Wants To Exclude Linux and Other Open Source Systems From New Age Checks
A proposed change to California's Digital Age Assurance Act aims to exempt open source operating systems from age verification rules set to take effect on January 1, 2027.The amendment, published on May 18, 2026, introduces language that excludes any operating system or application distributed under license terms allowing copying, redistribution, and modification from the definition of "operating system provider."If approved, Linux distributions…
Laws that provide for age verification in operating systems probably exclude open source, at least in California and Colorado.
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