Linux backlash leads to California law change on age verification — with the original lawmaker forced to make a humbling step back
California's Digital Age Assurance Act has faced backlash, particularly from the Linux community. An amendment is being proposed to exempt most mainstream open source Linux distributions from age verification requirements. This change aims to redefine what constitutes an 'operating system provider' to exclude entities that distribute software under open licenses.
- ▪The Digital Age Assurance Act requires OS vendors to obtain user age brackets during device setup.
- ▪The Linux community argues that the open source nature of the software makes it difficult to enforce age verification.
- ▪The proposed amendment would exempt Linux distributions like Ubuntu from the age verification law.
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Pro Security Linux backlash leads to California law change on age verification — with the original lawmaker forced to make a humbling step back News By Craig Hale published 27 May 2026 California's Digital Age Assurance Act is under fire When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Pixababy) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter 2025 California law requires OS vendors to obtain user age brackets to boost protectionLinux community worried that a lack of commercial ownership make it difficult to enforceThe change would also require vendors to share "only the…
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