A bill to mandate age verification for Linux users is facing heavy criticism and is being amended.

A proposed amendment has been submitted to the California law requiring operating systems to verify users' ages, which would exempt Linux and open-source operating systems. The law had drawn widespread opposition from the Linux community, which would have required OS providers to input users' birth dates and ages. However, the amended bill now includes wording that excludes 'operating systems distributed under a copy, redistribute, and modify license.'

Bill Text - AB-1856 Age verification signals: software applications and online services.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1856

California moves to exempt Linux from its upcoming age-verification law after backlash over forcing operating systems to collect users' ages — amendment proposed by the same lawmaker who wrote the original law | Tom's Hardware
https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/california-moves-to-exempt-linux-from-its-upcoming-age-verification-law-after-backlash-over-forcing-operating-systems-to-collect-users-ages-amendment-proposed-by-the-same-lawmaker-who-wrote-the-original-law

The Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) , enacted in California, USA, mandates that OS providers require users to enter their age information when setting up their OS account, and to pass age classification signals such as 'under 13,' '13 to under 16,' '16 to under 18,' and '18 or older' to app developers when an app is downloaded and launched. The Digital Age Assurance Act is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2027, and will impose civil penalties of up to $2,500 (approximately 400,000 yen) per affected child for accidental violations and up to $7,500 (approximately 1,200,000 yen) for intentional violations.

California introduces law requiring user age verification during OS setup, including Linux and SteamOS - GIGAZINE

Under the Digital Age Protection Act, an OS provider is broadly defined as 'anyone who develops, licenses, or manages operating system software for computers, mobile devices, or other general-purpose computing devices.' Therefore, it has been pointed out that this could potentially include not only Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, but also Linux distributions and Valve's SteamOS.

However, many Linux distributions are not commercial platforms managed by a single company like Apple or Google, but are maintained by volunteers and communities. Many Linux distributions lack user account functionality or mechanisms for transmitting usage data, and the need to implement a new personal information collection system solely for age verification has been a point of contention. Critics argued that 'the wording of the Digital Age Assurance Act is too broad and could technically force open-source operating systems to be transformed into age verification platforms.'

In March 2026, the emergence of 'Ageless Linux,' a Linux distribution designed to deliberately circumvent the Digital Age Protection Act, also generated considerable buzz. Ageless Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution that claims to not collect users' age information. Developer John McArdle states that only large corporations have the funding and personnel to implement age verification systems, and that the Digital Age Protection Act would be a significant burden for small developers and volunteer-based Linux distributions.

What is 'Ageless Linux,' which deliberately violates the law requiring age verification during OS setup? - GIGAZINE

In response to this backlash, the California State Legislature is considering 'AB 1856,' a bill to amend the Digital Age Protection Act. The May 18, 2026 version of AB 1856 adds wording to the definition of an OS provider that excludes 'people or organizations that distribute an OS or application under license terms that allow recipients to copy, redistribute, or modify the software.' In other words, operating systems distributed under open-source licenses that allow copying, redistribution, and modification will no longer be considered OS providers under the Digital Age Protection Act.

On the other hand, AB 1856 is not a bill to repeal the Digital Age Protection Act itself. The amendments narrow the definition of OS providers, and OSs with their own app stores or commercial app distribution platforms may still be subject to the law.

PC hardware media outlet Tom's Hardware reports that 'California lawmakers may be rolling back the scope of the Digital Age Protection Act in response to backlash from Linux and open-source developers.' However, it also states that 'it remains unclear whether operating systems like SteamOS, which are based on Linux but strongly tied to their own commercial app distribution platforms, will be exempt,' and that 'the line between commercial platforms and open-source operating systems will be a key focus going forward.'