Ageless Linux: Software for humans of indeterminate age.
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Ageless Linux: Software for humans of indeterminate age. We don't know how old you are. We don't want to know. We are legally required to ask. We won't.
People here acting like these laws won't just be stillborn, impossible to actually enforce, or challenged in court immediately after they take effect. At least in the US since code is free speech and enacting this on people (especially hobbyist distros) is not only unconstitutional but an anti-trust situation, since clearly this seems to be primarily targeting Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Also there is already a precedent from years ago saying you can't force people to use an operating system they don't want on their own computer and you can't lock a computer to disallow switching it.
Also its linux, even if its put in its a simple sudo away from active destruction, the old fucks in charge should be wheeled back into the nursing home or shot behind the shed.
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Ageless Linux: Software for humans of indeterminate age. We don't know how old you are. We don't want to know. We are legally required to ask. We won't.
@nixCraft One can assemble your own linux-based operating system from scratch... how's blocking that gonna work?
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Or if you're a young developer, you download the source, stub out the age tests, and build your own version to install from - you going to sue a teen cause they have skills?
The whole notion of age verification in open source software where the source of the software is available to modify, is so brain damaged and unenforceable.
Maybe add age verification as a loadable kernel module. Then people can opt-out or opt-in at the time of install.
I am amazed that #California of all places, being open to ideas and a hub of technology is parking their brain cells in a handicap zone.
@sirwumpus @nixCraft > you going to sue a teen cause they have skills?
Yes, absolutely. Time honored tradition dating back to the late 90's of folks who reported a problem they stumbled across. I worked for a few companies that did that.
Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.
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@nixCraft Here's the #Debian #SystemDCensorD proposal, using D-Bus - "On installation, the user will be required to enter their location. ... This location and user data will be managed by a new daemon, systemd-censord, ... For example, ... a unit for China will implement keyword scans ... debian will need to switch to being a binary-only distribution ... with ... controls to prevent any non-signed software from being installed , written, or compiled, ..."
[1] https://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2026/03/msg00018.html
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Or if you're a young developer, you download the source, stub out the age tests, and build your own version to install from - you going to sue a teen cause they have skills?
The whole notion of age verification in open source software where the source of the software is available to modify, is so brain damaged and unenforceable.
Maybe add age verification as a loadable kernel module. Then people can opt-out or opt-in at the time of install.
I am amazed that #California of all places, being open to ideas and a hub of technology is parking their brain cells in a handicap zone.
@sirwumpus @nixCraft As source code has been dragged through the courts and defined as Free Speech in the US any open source based distribution would seem to have the ability to use the constitution against any state based law.
IANAL
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@utf_7 @nixCraft from this post I deduce that Debian will never ask for age.
But move the responsibility to distros with a faster turnaround. Their LTS goes until 2033.
https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2026/03/msg00016.html -
Ageless Linux: Software for humans of indeterminate age. We don't know how old you are. We don't want to know. We are legally required to ask. We won't.
@nixCraft Aye, going to drop Ubuntu and switch to Ageless Debian. I don't mind if I build up fines in California.
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What I quoted from is a satirical response (not by me - I can't claim the credit) to what was originally a serious proposal to handle a real-world dystopian problem. The satirical proposal doesn't have a [[WP:SNOW]]ball's chance in hell of being accepted. You'll have to follow the thread to see if *some* sort of opt-in proposal gets accepted, or is seen as too dangerous. Maybe adding "ageless-linux" as an opt-in Debian package could be doable.
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What I quoted from is a satirical response (not by me - I can't claim the credit) to what was originally a serious proposal to handle a real-world dystopian problem. The satirical proposal doesn't have a [[WP:SNOW]]ball's chance in hell of being accepted. You'll have to follow the thread to see if *some* sort of opt-in proposal gets accepted, or is seen as too dangerous. Maybe adding "ageless-linux" as an opt-in Debian package could be doable.
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Ageless Linux: Software for humans of indeterminate age. We don't know how old you are. We don't want to know. We are legally required to ask. We won't.
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