<![CDATA[“software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can.]]>“software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. corporations do it constantly and I really doubt any of them will drop linux if it doesn’t comply with a set of godawful fascist age verification laws. historically one of the forms of pushback against unjust laws is to show some basic fucking solidarity and do nothing to assist in their enforcement because it really isn’t practical to sue everybody, but unfortunately solidarity is alien to most of these computer fuckers

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/d849c2ac-573c-4c5c-9f62-01ffe5c7d72a/software-can-t-just-ignore-laws-it-doesn-t-like-it-literally-can.RSS for NodeFri, 01 May 2026 05:25:53 GMTFri, 17 Apr 2026 19:49:30 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:22:31 GMT]]>@springdiesel Yup, horrible history…including the monthly subscription model.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.ca/users/paulywill/statuses/116431346184024787https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.ca/users/paulywill/statuses/116431346184024787Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:22:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:16:50 GMT]]>@zzt@mas.to "software can't just ignore laws it doesn't like" i say as i encode a video to h.264 and download several videos and songs from the web for free

at what point will this sentence ever be true

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://plasmatrap.com/notes/al96eb5w25https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://plasmatrap.com/notes/al96eb5w25Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:16:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:26:18 GMT]]>@ajroach42 @springdiesel @PixelRobot @zzt the Watson s (Sr. and Jr.) were CEOs from 1915 to 1971.

The Thomas J. Watson Research Center is named after them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Watson_Research_Center

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/fmarini/statuses/116430653245405275https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/fmarini/statuses/116430653245405275Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:26:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:32:09 GMT]]>@PixelRobot @zzt If anyone hasn't read Black's "IBM and the Holocaust" it's horrifying and essential.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ioc.exchange/users/annehargreaves/statuses/116430440304547039https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ioc.exchange/users/annehargreaves/statuses/116430440304547039Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:32:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:46:28 GMT]]>@zzt
Well, mp3 is now open.
I discovered it this week.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://framapiaf.org/users/coq/statuses/116430024758212030https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://framapiaf.org/users/coq/statuses/116430024758212030Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:46:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:39:00 GMT]]>@wall_e Such a law, if it ever came into existence, would happen with or without systemd or the Linux kernel's co-operation.

And if that behaviour IS mandated by law, what do you do? You presumably find an OS that refuses to comply (maybe one of the BSDs) -- but if the law now says it's illegal for you as a user to do that, you're running the risk of having your devices seized & a spell in prison if you're found out.

None of this is good but if you seriously think that the entire direction of travel in this space hinges on one program's commit to store an additional 10 bytes of optional data, then your understanding of how the world works is vastly different to mine.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.chatty.monster/users/losttourist/statuses/116429995378522535https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.chatty.monster/users/losttourist/statuses/116429995378522535Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:39:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:18:24 GMT]]>@helielo @sabik @zzt anonymizing religion against a fascist government often requires more work than simply blanking out the fields (which would indicate data tampering) so i assume carmille as head statistician of the french census did something more complicated. anonymity is very poorly treated in research and deserves much more investment particularly as analogy to encryption

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://circumstances.run/users/hipsterelectron/statuses/116429914382079911https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://circumstances.run/users/hipsterelectron/statuses/116429914382079911Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:18:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:11:20 GMT]]>@springdiesel @PixelRobot @zzt The guy that okayed all that was named Watson.

When IBM was on the cutting age of LLM research, before everyone else passed them, they called their LLM Watson.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://retro.social/users/ajroach42/statuses/116429414740980917https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://retro.social/users/ajroach42/statuses/116429414740980917Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:11:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 03:14:58 GMT]]>@shitpostalotl maybe you should stick to hacker news with tepid fucking takes like “software can’t do anything, don’t resist or you’ll get in trouble”, those assholes will clap like seals

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/zzt/statuses/116429193111610884https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/zzt/statuses/116429193111610884Sun, 19 Apr 2026 03:14:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:56:08 GMT]]>@zzt corporations can ignore laws they don't like. software can't do anything. people implementing software that violates the law invites risk of punishment, and ignoring that does nothing but alienate them. the fact that taking the risk is in this case the morally correct thing to do does not erase that.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://axfedi.derg.rest/notes/al8oiektmzu60xixhttps://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://axfedi.derg.rest/notes/al8oiektmzu60xixSun, 19 Apr 2026 01:56:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:31:54 GMT]]>@violetmadder @hipsterelectron @zzt It does what it is intended to, protect social media companies from liability. Without even mentioning social media.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/Lightfighter/statuses/116428787854535458https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/Lightfighter/statuses/116428787854535458Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:31:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:13:36 GMT]]>@hipsterelectron @zzt Nazi Nexus by the same author is a good overview of US corporate inspiration for, collusion with, and enablement of the Nazis.

A lot of familiar notes ringing with the present and I was reading it in ~2017.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://masto.hackers.town/users/randomgeek/statuses/116428715906683134https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://masto.hackers.town/users/randomgeek/statuses/116428715906683134Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:13:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:16:17 GMT]]>@PixelRobot @zzt

"IBM did not sell any of its punch card machines to Nazi Germany. The equipment was leased by the month. Each month, often more frequently, authorized repairmen, working directly for or trained by IBM, serviced the machines on-site-whether in the middle of Berlin or at a concentration camp."

Holy crap.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://spore.social/users/springdiesel/statuses/116428490506622045https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://spore.social/users/springdiesel/statuses/116428490506622045Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:16:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:07:41 GMT]]>@zzt "software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like," I said, while playing a BluRay disc on my Linux system (`mpv`, `vlc`, etc.).

...And ripping said discs to my NAS (`handbrake`).

...And saving local copies of YouTube videos (`yt-dlp`).

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/ewhac/statuses/116428456686611684https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/ewhac/statuses/116428456686611684Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:07:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:06:30 GMT]]>@zzt sadly, universally ignored laws also give cops absolute discretionary power to enforce at will.

Only the weak suffer, corps can shrug it off.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://byteheaven.net/users/tekhedd/statuses/116428452037000708https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://byteheaven.net/users/tekhedd/statuses/116428452037000708Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:06:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:00:07 GMT]]>@zzt I've been a Linux user for a couple decades now. There have been changes I wasn't excited about in that time, but none of them was a hill that I felt was worth dying on. This hill though? This hill looks pretty good.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sunny.garden/users/chansecodina/statuses/116428191027433515https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sunny.garden/users/chansecodina/statuses/116428191027433515Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:00:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:09:03 GMT]]>@zzt Well, I mean the great thing is that Open Source means I can mod it myself.

Linux SystemD already ships Age Verification (fucking SystemD) code, and it's already been nullified with a script.

Ok so Linux is in compliance (tho I don't think it should bother, fuck age verification laws) when it Ships, but *I* have *Every* right to alter that code on *MY* fucking computer.

And I do. You don't need to know who I am or my age for me to use The Intertubes. Fuck that.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/elfin/statuses/116427990208158996https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/elfin/statuses/116427990208158996Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:09:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:02:19 GMT]]>@helielo @sabik @zzt @jwz but what if we compressed the kill chain instead

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sociale.network/users/oblomov/statuses/116427727805808223https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sociale.network/users/oblomov/statuses/116427727805808223Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:02:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:39:54 GMT]]>@losttourist @schrotthaufen @zzt @MrBerard until suddenly there's a law in place that mandates your distro, which probably uses shim, will only be able to get a signed cert from Microsoft's UEFI CA signing service when it has submitted its age-verification for review.
And of course, since we gotta protect the children and generally increase security, now every new system sold must enforce UEFI Secure Boot with a strictly regulated set of platform keys.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ioc.exchange/users/wall_e/statuses/116427639628191821https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ioc.exchange/users/wall_e/statuses/116427639628191821Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:39:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:30:32 GMT]]>@sabik @zzt @jwz “He also hacked his own machines, reprogramming them so that they’d never punch information from Column 11 [where citizens were asked to indicate their religion] onto any census card”

People who make software have a duty to follow his example.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/helielo/statuses/116427602811906743https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/helielo/statuses/116427602811906743Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:30:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:17:09 GMT]]>@Bredroll @zzt Absolutely. Free software can lawyer up like anyone else.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/prism/statuses/116427550184280352https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/prism/statuses/116427550184280352Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:17:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:53:58 GMT]]>@Bredroll
The funny thing with this that's these laws are practically never capable to correctly define what the fascists want and don't want.

They literally require selective enforcement.
@prism @zzt

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/yacc143/statuses/116427459048665458https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/yacc143/statuses/116427459048665458Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:53:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:46:39 GMT]]>@zzt “anyone can ignore laws that aren’t enforced”, I said, as I blatantly jaywalked across another street

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/codinghorror/statuses/116427430261537221https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/codinghorror/statuses/116427430261537221Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:46:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to “software can’t just ignore laws it doesn’t like” it literally can. on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:46:17 GMT]]>@Bredroll
And when the court rules that the law dies not apply to CCTV, my new Linux distribute will be targeted to AMD64 based CCTV camera systems.
@prism @zzt

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/yacc143/statuses/116427428799910455https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/yacc143/statuses/116427428799910455Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:46:17 GMT