this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2026
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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I'm just not sure. It seems contradictory to me, since the manufacturer of a physical device is also "a person or entity that controls the operating system". Unless they sell the hardware with no OS installed? This exemption doesn't seem to mean anything.
With how they've defined "App Store", basically any product that can download applications is affected by this, including devices that don't even have the concept of a user account. I'm a little unclear still on what's required of an entirely offline OS.
I am not sure what's required of a bare bones Linux install (general computing device) that has access to a package manager (application store)!