Gardiner Bryant

California just put FOSS devs on the financial hook for your kids "safety"

So California finally did it. They passed Assembly Bill 1043. And now your OS is legally required to collect your birthdate and report it to every app developer... so they can verify you're not a baby....

#Enshittification #Linux #AgeVerification #DigitalSovereignty

https://gardinerbryant.com/california-just-put-foss-devs-on-the-financial-hook-for-your-kids-safety/?utm_campaign=brsharewidget&utm_source=mastodon

Feb 28 at 1:01pmWeb
Show threadManpacketFeb 28

@gardiner_bryant

> Why can't we set the bar for privacy and data protection to be the same for everyone?

Right. Every single external link from the article includes extra tracking. Why can't we set the bar indeed?

Show threadGardiner BryantFeb 28
@manpacket unfortunately there's no way to turn that off in Ghost. Which is fun since it's an "open source" app.
Show threadGardiner BryantFeb 28
@manpacket Actually, I just looked it up and there *is* a way to turn that off. It's now fixed.
Show threadManpacketFeb 28
@gardiner_bryant cool. Much appreciated :) Link in your post also had tracking - but that's something that existing plugins can remove. Still... If you promote privacy - do it all the way.
Show threadysaeldevFeb 28

@gardiner_bryant

"Still, it all begs the question: why do kids deserve more privacy than the rest of us? I'm not saying they deserve less, either."

- https://gardinerbryant.com/california-just-put-foss-devs-on-the-financial-hook-for-your-kids-safety/

Exactly. Well said

California just put FOSS devs on the financial hook for your kids "safety"

So California finally did it. They passed Assembly Bill 1043. And now your OS is legally required to collect your birthdate and report it to every app developer... so they can verify you're not a baby. Now, I read the entire text (and I recommend you do the same). I'll

The Bryant Review
Show threadohmrunFeb 28
@gardiner_bryant
The Dead Kennedys are playing on the radio for some reason.
Show threadmarkFeb 28
@gardiner_bryant I have seen a lot of talk about age verification say that sites shouldn't have the data (100% true) and then offer device level info amd authentication as an alternative. Is every OS being a verified spying device the actual implementation of that idea? If so, it sucks too
Show threadRobin CafollaFeb 28
@gardiner_bryant wow. Linux distros soon to block downloads in California?
Show threadJonathan HartleyFeb 28
@gardiner_bryant This is a fantastic breakdown. Thank you for taking the time and doing the work to post it.
Show threadGardiner BryantFeb 28
@tartley Thank you!
Show threadOrion Ussner kidderFeb 28
@gardiner_bryant I don't know the details yet, but I strongly suspect that the tech lobby got the happily captured state government to pass this in order to reign in the threat of FOSS. That's far from the primary goal, but capitalists are TERRIFIED of market share they can't control because they're all little piss-pants babies.
Show threadJargogglesFeb 28
@gardiner_bryant
"Incredible, everybody using this OS was born January 1, 1970."
Show threadMcNeelyMar 1
@gardiner_bryant IANAL but my read of this bill from earlier this week is that it's overly broad to the point of probably being unenforceable for app developers (but NOT for OS devs) but that it is mostly an attempt at trying to appear like California is "doing something" for the children. I think in the end it's more silly regulatory hurdles for show than something nefarious.