This week's Linux and FOSS news:
LINUX NEWS
elementaryOS dev announces to comply with California law to avoid fines:
https://mastodon.online/@danirabbit/116250765623660340
(I mean, losing a source of income is a valid concern on her part, but it doesn't justify that she risks the privacy of the users. Even though she says in a reply that asking for ID is different, I wouldn't be so sure at this point that she won't consider implementing that too, just to stay in business)
Fedora Project Leader Suggests Linux Distros Could Adopt Apple's Age Verification API:
https://itsfoss.com/news/fedora-leader-suggests-age-verification-api/
(Adopting a big tech corp's API? What the hell did he smoke? It's even worse than the Systemd stuff. I already had some trust issues with Fedora, but now it becomes pretty obvious, that they shouldn't be trusted)
Devuan rejects compliance:
https://xcancel.com/jaromil/status/2034694340249821329
(Now this is great to see. I'm considering getting away from Systemd due to their attitude to comply, Devuan is the primary distro I consider, because it would let me keep the Debian base but get rid of Systemd at the same time)
Slackware also rejects compliance:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/how-is-ab-1043-going-to-impact-slackware-4175762747/page15.html#post6626190
(3 Systemd-free distros not complying at this point, there are quite a few distros to go to.)
And ZorinOS too:
https://forum.zorin.com/t/statement-about-age-verification-laws/61052
(A really good summary of this whole age nonsense, a worthy read)
And MX Linux also joins the camp:
https://mxlinux.org/blog/mx-news-week-ending-march-28-2026/
Kicksecure/Whonix changes plan, "unlikely" to comply, after user backlash:
https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Age-api#status
Inside the Systemd Age Verification Debate: Developer Responds to Criticism:
https://itsfoss.com/dylan-taylor-systemd-controversy/
(I think he isn't the one to blame here, but rather the Systemd project. If he didn't do it, someone else would do it. That's what we get from a corporate-backed project I guess. Harrassing him won't do anything, it's just naive, childish behavior.)
Someone Forked Systemd to Strip Out Its Age Verification Support:
https://itsfoss.com/news/systemd-fork-strips-out-age-verification/
(more Linux and FOSS news in comments)
#News #Linux #LinuxNews #AgeVerification #elementaryOS #Devuan #ZorinOS #Whonix #Systemd