May 25, 2026
Age gate? More like rage gate
California moves to exempt Linux from its age-verification law after backlash
California blinks after Linux fans rage, but critics say the whole law is still a mess
TLDR: California is moving to exempt most Linux-style free operating systems from its age-check law after a backlash, but the law itself would still stand for some commercial platforms. Commenters weren’t impressed: many want the whole thing scrapped, calling it invasive, clumsy, and unfair to regular users.
California just tried to calm a very loud internet fire by carving Linux and most open-source systems out of its coming age-check law — and the comment section is still acting like the house is on fire. The proposed fix, AB 1856, would likely spare popular free operating systems like Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, Debian, and Arch from having to ask users for their age when setting up a device. That’s a big retreat after the original law spooked developers, privacy groups, and basically anyone allergic to being asked for their birthday by their computer.
But the crowd is not exactly sending thank-you cards. The hottest reaction was pure scorched-earth: one commenter snapped, “Drop the stupid-ass law all together.” That set the tone. Another blasted lawmakers for dumping the problem onto everyday users instead of going after giant tech companies directly, saying this is what happens when public institutions “lost the will” to regulate the real players. In other words: the internet jury thinks California solved a mess by making a slightly smaller mess.
There was also classic comment-thread nitpicking, because of course there was. One person pointed out this isn’t just about Linux at all — the wording could cover any software license that lets people copy and modify code. Another chimed in with a familiar fandom plea: “Hopefully they add the BSDs too.” Even the practical suggestions had shade, with one commenter basically saying browser makers could solve half this in minutes. The vibe? Relief, suspicion, and a lot of “nice patch, now fix the actual problem.”
Key Points
- •AB 1856 would exempt software distributed under licenses allowing copying, redistribution, and modification from California’s operating-system age-assurance rules.
- •The exemption would likely cover most mainstream open-source Linux distributions, including Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, and Mint.
- •The original Digital Age Assurance Act, AB 1043, required operating systems to collect age information during setup and pass an age bracket signal to apps and app stores.
- •Critics said the original law’s broad wording could improperly apply to decentralized, volunteer-run Linux distributions and create privacy risks.
- •AB 1856 narrows the definition of "operating system provider" rather than repealing the Digital Age Assurance Act, leaving some proprietary ecosystems potentially subject to the law.