The video discusses a new law signed in California that mandates age verification for all operating system providers. This law requires OS providers to implement system-level age checks to ensure users only access content deemed acceptable by the state. The speaker highlights that this poses a significant challenge for Linux, as its decentralized nature and lack of a central identity system make it difficult to comply with such a requirement, contrasting it with systems like Microsoft's which already have user sign-in mechanisms. The law is set to take effect by the end of the year, with penalties for non-compliance including fines of $2500 USD per unknowing violation and $7500 USD per intentional violation. Interestingly, the governor has already requested revisions to the law, acknowledging its initial inadequacy, even after its legislative passage. The speaker expresses concern that this legislation signifies a move away from the open and free nature of computing.

UFD Tech

Linux will now be illegal in California. Get ready for the nightmare that will be modern operating system legislation.

A law was just signed into existence that will force every operating system provider to do age verification at the system level to make sure only the correct ages have access to the correct content that the state deems acceptable. Obviously, this isn't a problem for Microsoft who forces you to sign in no matter what. But it applies to every type of OS, mobile, desktop. It's irrelevant.

The biggest problem though is that Linux isn't built like that. There's typically no central identity that can handle this and it goes directly against the purpose and spirit of the operating system in the first place. The kicker is that the governor knew the law wasn't good enough to implement and has already asked that it be revised.

You know, after it's been signed into the legislature, companies will have until the end of this year to get into compliance and then it'll be a fine per user violation. 2500 USD for unknowing violations and triple that for intentional violations. How this is even remotely enforceable is a mystery, but the free and open age of computers seems to be dying in the hands of lawmakers.

CA OS ID Law

Linux will now be illegal in California.
Get ready for the nightmare that will be
modern operating system legislation. A
law was just signed into existence that
will force every operating system
provider to do age verification at the
system level to make sure only the
correct ages have access to the correct
content that the state deems acceptable.
Obviously, this isn't a problem for
Microsoft who forces you to sign in no
matter what. But it applies to every
type of OS, mobile, desktop. It's
irrelevant. The biggest problem though
is that Linux isn't built like that.
There's typically no central identity
that can handle this and it goes
directly against the purpose and spirit
of the operating system in the first
place. The kicker is that the governor
knew the law wasn't good enough to
implement and has already asked that it
be revised. You know, after it's been
signed into the legislature, companies
will have until the end of this year to
get into compliance and then it'll be a
fine per user violation. 2500 USD for
unknowing violations and triple that for
intentional violations. How this is even
remotely enforceable is a mystery, but
the free and open age of computers seems
to be dying in the hands of lawmakers.

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CA OS ID Law

Transcription