@omgubuntu In exactly the same boat here.

I've had an iPhone and an Apple account since 2010.

Got my first Apple laptop in 2004.

Learned to nerd on an IBM RS/6000 running AIX 3.2.5 (not counting the parental ZX81).

However, I'm apparently a child, because I don't like the idea of living on credit and I think the private car isn't that great an idea.

@omgubuntu It doesn’t have to.

It could decide to leave the UK market.

Then the government would have to face a very disgruntled citizenry.

Which is the sort of thing that might even bring down a government.

But we’re talking about a trillion-dollar corporation. So, of course, they would comply.

If the UK government told Tim Cook he had to shoot a puppy on live TV to stay in the UK, he’d do it, no questions asked and probably blame it on his fiduciary duty to shareholders or some shit.

Fuck, I hate corporations.

@omgubuntu

My understanding, FWIW, is that there is no such law currently on the UK statute book, nor imminently about to be on the UK statute book, and Apple are simply lying when they say UK law requires it.

@landelare @omgubuntu I would imagine Apple does not want to (or is not allowed to) access the UK Passport database for data security reasons, so you are correct, this is the right approach.

Unfortunately their US-centric designers (where everyone has credit cards and a driving license for ID) have not catered for UK requirements - and the Government staff who have “worked closely with Apple” have not ensured that they do either.

@pinhman @omgubuntu

It will be interesting to see what the hardware looks like 🙂

@viralobscurity @omgubuntu I think it's also time to focus on mobile Linux distributions like postmarketOS, mobian, etc.

I feel like with the recent Google changes that Android might really close off its source sooner or later, or bring other complications.

Some in that space aren't helping either.

Believe it or not, GrapheneOS (open source Android fork) is actually trying to argue that an iPhone is better than Linux mobile in terms of privacy, security and so on. I don't understand how a black box can compare to a fully trustable operating system.

We're better off supporting operating systems we can trust.

@shwell I don't think politics comes into it.

It's currently a pragmatic, overnight reality: the update may install itself, and UK users – where it's far more common to have never owned a credit card, nor drive – can't use valid ID to prove their age.

The PSA is not, as the follow up notes, a grumble re: "why" age verification is now required to use Reddit or stream tv shows with naughty swears in, just a heads-up that without the items mentioned, folks can't.

"Stop using it" is moot.