this post was submitted on 04 Apr 2026
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Debian Project Leader Addresses New Age Verification Laws (linuxiac.com)
submitted 1 week ago by cm0002@lemy.lol to c/linux@programming.dev
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Debian Project Leader Andreas Tille has addressed the ongoing debate over age-verification laws and their potential impact on free software operating systems. Long story short: he clarified that Debian has not adopted a position and is awaiting legal analysis.

In his latest “Bits from the DPL” message, Tille stated that the main question is whether operating systems and package distribution mechanisms might be required to provide age-related information to applications.

He noted that Debian and other projects are discussing the issue, and that Software in the Public Interest, a non-profit corporation founded to act as a fiscal sponsor for organizations that develop open-source software and hardware, has begun seeking legal guidance.

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[–] leftzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I think the position to adopt is very clear:

  1. You stand upright facing the nearest government building.
  2. You extend your right arm horizontally in front of you.
  3. You rest your left hand, palm down, on top of your right arm, next to your antecubital fossa (the opposite side of the elbow).
  4. You make a fist with your right hand.
  5. Without opening your fist, you extend your right hand's middle finger straight up.
  6. You decisively bend your right arm at the elbow, standing your forearm, fist, and middle finger straight up.

Thus you achieve the only reasonable position towards this nonsense.

[–] NostraDavid@programming.dev 5 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

You extend your right arm horizontally in front of you.

Uh oh...

You rest your left hand, palm down, on top of your right arm, next to your antecubital fossa (the opposite side of the elbow).

Oh, phew! I thought this was going to get dark for a second.

[–] irelephant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Imagine having to verify your age for every docker container spun up by GitHub/forgejo actions.

[–] kieron115@startrek.website 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

then it would be time to switch all my LXCs to alpine, i guess. if they'll even still work. they're all debian 12/13 right now.

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world -5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Only restricted material will require an age verification.

[–] okamiueru@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

So, what about an operating system is restricted material? That's what this law requires.

Edit: wow, you're all over the place here. Are you paid (perhaps run?) by Meta?

[–] okamiueru@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

There is no law that governs Linux development related to this, enywhere else. There is only a law in CA that requires this functionality (which would break any and all software infrastructure). Why would any maintainer of any Linux distribution, not actively dependent on following an untested law (from a legal PoV), even consider implementing it? This got a lot of headlines, because it's absurd and stupid.

If maintainers wanted to comply, what the fuck would it actually entail? 99% of operating system doesn't have any specific human users to identify. The only reasonable approach is to ignore it. If data centers in CA for Azure, AWS, GCP, or any other, wants to comply with this (which is impossible), either spend some of that tax free revenue to combat Meta's suspected 2 billion USD effort in getting these online ID laws pushed through.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 72 points 1 week ago (8 children)

TL;DR they are lawyering up and hasn't said for or aginst

Fair enough, that means they're probably gonna sue over it.

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Debian uses systemd, so its coming whatever they decide.

[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

No, it's not. That just means a birthdate field next to name, address, etc, is coming.

Just because systemd said "Guess we will roll over and add this in" doesn't mean Debian has to use an extra demographic field, of which they didn't use all of them to begin with.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 2 points 6 days ago

Do the ageless fork of systemd

[–] plz1@lemmy.world 68 points 1 week ago

Eh, more like they are having a lawyer help determine whether they comply or not (to avoid being sued/held liable for non-compliance).

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[–] mech@feddit.org 54 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Software in the Public Interest is a US- based non-profit organization that legally represents and handles donations for Debian, Arch, LibreOffice, systemd and a lot of other projects. And if they're in violation of US law, they can unfortunately be sued into oblivion. So they're right to check with their legal team before making an informed decision.

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world -1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Not providing an age signal is not illegal, you just won't be able to access restricted material like social media.

[–] mech@feddit.org 4 points 6 days ago

Are you a lawyer?

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[–] UninvestedCuriosity@lemmy.world 41 points 1 week ago (2 children)

This is why I stick with Debian. Adults make decisions over there.

[–] Gobbel2000@programming.dev 32 points 1 week ago

Can you verify this? Maybe we should require Debian contributors to prove they are adults. /s

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[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 36 points 1 week ago (5 children)

He also noted that, from a non-lawyer perspective, it remains uncertain how these regulations would apply to a non-commercial, volunteer-driven project like Debian, which does not sell software and distributes it in a decentralized manner.

FUCKING THANK YOU.

[–] Sir_Simon_Spamalot@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

That should buy them deniability.

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[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 30 points 1 week ago (22 children)

I’m against these laws, strongly, but I think sending vitriol at systemd and distrust is not constructive.

The battle is legal and pretending it isn’t and fighting our maintainers who realistically can’t afford to be sued over good, is not helping the cause.

It’s humans at the end of the pipe. Thoughtful and vulnerable humans.

[–] ATS1312@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

There is one small benefit to this speedbump on our road to freedom:

Governor Gavin Newsom, Democrat of California? Has been acting like he wants to run for President in 2028. He signed this into law for his state.

Make this an albatross on his neck. Sink him. Let him know that this crushed his dreams of ever being President. Publicly. Loudly. Don't be satisfied until he quits twitter and retires from public life altogether, not just politics.

And for anyone in New Jersey? Get loud at your state reps phonelines now, they're trying to pass the same in your state.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I don’t know how anyone can pretend to care about gay, trans, or black people and support this law.

It’s going to be used to ban “critical race theory” and lgbtq topics first.

I don’t see how the Dems can defend this

[–] Aatube@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 6 days ago

It’s going to be used to ban “critical race theory” and lgbtq topics first.

How would the CA law allow that? It’s not KOSPA but a dropdown selection.

[–] TehPers@beehaw.org 1 points 6 days ago

Well, Newsom doesn't even pretend to care about trans people, so we can start there.

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[–] Mubelotix@jlai.lu 23 points 1 week ago (14 children)

Just fucking block Brasil and California from using debian

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