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.
Which is why I included the bit about fighting it out legally.
That’s what happens by adding features that comply with these stupid laws. Step one is NOT doing that. People can still use the software even if it doesn’t comply. What is the government going to do break into everyone’s home and look at their computers?
The CA one, at least from what I remember, doesn’t even place any expectations on a user. Even if a user did use an OS that was noncompliant, they would not be violating any laws for doing so, from what I understand.
That’s a good point.