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California's age-verification law will be amended to exempt Linux distributions from requiring age collection due to privacy concerns and backlash.

TechnologyLegal IssuesSoftware DevelopmentMay 25, 2026score 0.783 posts · 0 replies across 2 instances
California lawmakers are considering an amendment to exempt Linux distributions from an age-verification law due to backlash over forcing operating systems to collect users' ages. The amendment was proposed by the same lawmaker who initially wrote the law, highlighting concerns about privacy and the impact on open-source software.

Claims

California's age-verification law will be amended to exempt Linux distributions from requiring age collection due to privacy concerns and backlash.
Parent: RegulationEntity: Age-verification lawSub-entity: Linux DistributionsImpact: negativeDate: May 25, 2026 - May 28, 2026Target: Exemption of Linux distributions from age-verification requirements

Source posts

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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 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 #AgeVerification #IDverification #dystopia #surveillance #privacy #Linux #opensource #technology
9 boosts · 10 favs · 1 replies · May 27, 2026
#ageverification#idverification#dystopia#surveillance#privacy#linux
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California moves to exempt Linux from its upcoming age-verification law after backlash over forcing operating systems to collect users’ ages — The amendment is proposed by the same lawmaker who wrote the original law 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
11 boosts · 9 favs · 2 replies · May 27, 2026
@[email protected]
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 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
8 boosts · 9 favs · 0 replies · May 27, 2026
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California moves to exempt Linux (and most other open-source OSes) 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 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
7 boosts · 7 favs · 2 replies · May 26, 2026
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California moves to exempt Linux from its age-verification law after backlash L: 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 C: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48269961 posted on 2026.05.25 at 14:19:58 (c=1, p=4)
6 boosts · 6 favs · 0 replies · May 25, 2026
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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 California lawmakers introduced a new amendment that could exempt most Linux distributions from the state’s upcoming Digital Age Assurance Act after privacy backlash and concerns that the law would force open-source operating systems to become age-verif… #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
6 boosts · 5 favs · 0 replies · May 25, 2026
#hardware
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California is moving to exempt #Linux and other #opensource operating systems from its unecessary age verification proposal. These laws are fundamental privacy invasions and accomplish nothing positive, but at least the penguin will be safe in CA 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
6 boosts · 0 favs · 0 replies · May 27, 2026
#linux#opensource
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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 #Linux #AgeVerification #Privacy 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
5 boosts · 0 favs · 0 replies · May 26, 2026
#linux#ageverification#privacy
@[email protected]
California moves to exempt Linux from its age-verification law after backlash 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 #HackerNews #California #Linux #AgeVerification #Backlash #TechNews #OpenSource
5 boosts · 0 favs · 0 replies · May 25, 2026
#hackernews#california#linux#ageverification#backlash#technews
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California's operating-system-level age-verification law is still terrible, but it's slightly less absurd now that the legislature is moving to exempt open-source OS distributions. 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
19 boosts · 0 favs · 2 replies · May 28, 2026