this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2026
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California introduces age verification law for all operating systems, including Linux and SteamOS — user age verified during OS account setup (www.tomshardware.com)
submitted 3 days ago by Amoxtli@thelemmy.club to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 3 points 1 day ago (1 child)

It also makes it mandatory to include this feature in every OS. It means you'll be sending telemetry about who you are to anyone that wants it and you don't have a choice. Fuck that. I don't have kids, there's no reason I should have to use an OS with this shit.

[–] Archr@lemmy.world 1 point 1 day ago (2 children)

The law actually has a specific provision preventing both os providers and developers from sending your information to whoever they want.

And the OS is only allowed to send the minimum information that is required. Ie. your age bracket.

Send only the minimum amount of information necessary to comply with this title and shall not share the digital signal information with a third party for a purpose not required by this title.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 2 points 1 day ago

Laws don't prevent anything unless they are enforced. If the bill doesn't also include how this will all be audited and incredibly harsh penalties for violating it that part might as well be toilet paper. I don't care how minimal the data I'm sending them is. I want that amount to be 0. It doesn't benefit me to give them anything so I shouldn't be forced to do it.

[–] Katana314@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Wake me when that actually leads to enforcement penalties. This law is vague enough as it is, no company is going to get slammed for "accidentally" skipping a user permission check, and having their FunPad app offer up your age info to one of Palantir's long fingers.