this post was submitted on 23 May 2026
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Systemd v261-rc1 is out with the 'birth date field' (lemmings.world)
submitted 2 days ago by cm0002@lemmings.world to c/linux@programming.dev
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For those interested on the question of age verification and GNU/Linux: be aware that Systemd v261-rc1 was recently released. It now implements an optional birth date field in the JSON user database (see second item under "Other changes").

The implementation of this field was prompted by age-verification or -attestation laws.

(Age-verification status of Open Source Operating Systems.)

Writeup by @pglpm@lemmy.ca

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[โ€“] msokiovt@lemmy.today 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I proved to not be one of those types. While I do see the new field as a Trojan for digital ID, it is an optional field for now, though it may end up being baked in sometime in the future.

That's just how I see it, though. At this point, just don't comply with digital ID in the first place.

[โ€“] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

Yeah, and I'm on your team on the important topic.

My perspective on the systemd change is that in open source software it is impossible for any project to force me to do anything that I don't want to do. If the field ever becomes non-optional then I'll use a different init system.

To me, this is just engineers making engineering decisions in a way that is the least impactful for people not participating in the age verification nonsense.

Seeing people actively targeting the humans behind the update is the part that has motivated me to speak out. I don't think your position is wrong in any way, just some of the people sharing that perspective were being actively toxic and harmful.