I guess going forward if you are under 18 and want to learn programming and not be harassed by the government you have to go back to having and offline only computer and stack of o'reilly books?
Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
51–60 of 227 posts
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Many small distros are hobby distros... Then region lock. You don't have to support California or NY or ... > Different states are passing different requirements that often contradict each other. This is going to be a nightmare Create regional feature flags or region lock. It's a solved problem. > So you’re saying that we should expect those laws too They already de facto exist contractually speaking. > Because bef…
I think it would be better to create a parallel economy of underground unrestricted distributions while encouraging everyone to openly flaunt the law, and simultaneously fighting via lawfare and media. But maybe that’s just me!
> encouraging everyone to openly flaunt the law
> But maybe that’s just me
If you are fine taking the legal liability and are open to civil and criminal prosecution, go right ahead.
Western jurisdictions tend to cooperate on extradition as well, and American free speech laws are significantly more expansive than those in the EU, Canada, or ANZ so taking a principled approach wouldn't be a viable defense if you decided to go and incite via that route.
> fighting via lawfare
That is being done.
> and media
You heard about it via the media.
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is no limit to the power grab. The only acceptable thing to do is to dig the trenches before it gets worse.
The trenches will eventually be overwhelmed regardless. Once the government has AI and sensors, it will mandate its ubiquitous use. For minors, we have this lovely law coming in NYC: that will broadcast to everyone that you’re a minor: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8102 But let’s talk about around the US. For example, all cars manufactured in 2029 and onward will be required to have a built-in alco…
The sobriety check requirement for cars is so optimistic:
“Once data prove the tech cuts drunk-driving crashes, insurers may trim rates.”
Why would any insurance company want to cut into their profits by reducing rates?
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#54I guess going forward if you are under 18 and want to learn programming and not be harassed by the government you have to go back to having and offline only computer and stack of o'reilly books?
Soon programming will itself require a license. Only government approved individuals will be able to write code. CPUs will only boot software signed by the government.
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#55This headline is misleading. The California law requires that the OS store and provide the age bracket. It does not require that any verification take place. I am not arguing that this is a good idea, but it is simply false that the law requires that Linux 'check kids' IDs before booting'. The New York law is worse, and should be opposed, but the article only mentions it at the end - and even then, we actually don't…
It's funny that they want to do these checks in a country where even the checks for voting are very iffy.
Voting is far more important. If someone is falsely denied access to some web site, it doesn't matter. But everyone with the right to vote must be allowed to vote, no exceptions.
In any case, voting is substantially more intrusive. You must register with your full name and address, which is made public record. Each time you vote, that is also made public record (not who you voted for, but the fact that you voted). In states with closed primaries, your party membership is public record. In states with open primaries, it's public record which party's primary you vote in. It's way more invasive than a text box in your computer's account setup screen that asks for your age.
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#56This headline is misleading. The California law requires that the OS store and provide the age bracket. It does not require that any verification take place. I am not arguing that this is a good idea, but it is simply false that the law requires that Linux 'check kids' IDs before booting'. The New York law is worse, and should be opposed, but the article only mentions it at the end - and even then, we actually don't…
Who is paying FOSS devs who will be implementing this? Who is providing them with legal indemnification since they are now apparently subject to fines for a fucking hobby if they do it wrong? Who is making CA the only jurisdiction instead of the myriad contradictory laws all over the place? Who is stepping in to make sure no additional legislation comes across regulating how FOSS has to include backdoors or weaken en…
I suppose it can be handled like porn: torrenting linux isos will be lewd.
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
If there's no problem w/ improper voting, then why would anyone object to measures intended to verify that the proprieties involved are being followed?
Because 10% of US citizens (legitimate voters) do not have the forms of ID required in these proposed laws, and it can be expensive and time-consuming to get those forms of ID which are not otherwise required for their lives (QED), and they might not do so strictly for voting. Some people think disenfranchisement is bad. Others see it as useful. Specifically, PartyB thinks those people with inadequate ID skew toward…
> Interestingly though, PartyB might be wrong about the current population
Luckily, this problem is wholly solved via selective enforcement.
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#58Totally inaccurate. The actual technical requirement is to add a self-reported age field to user creation flows, and that the value selected be made available to applications.
But let's just pretend something totally different is happening. It's more exciting that way.
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it would be better to create a parallel economy of underground unrestricted distributions while encouraging everyone to openly flaunt the law, and simultaneously fighting via lawfare and media. But maybe that’s just me!
> encouraging everyone to openly flaunt the law > But maybe that’s just me If you are fine taking the legal liability and are open to civil and criminal prosecution, go right ahead. Western jurisdictions tend to cooperate on extradition as well, and American free speech laws are significantly more expansive than those in the EU, Canada, or ANZ so taking a principled approach wouldn't be a viable defense if you decide…
Fine by me, I’m willing to fight. The freedom to compute is one of our most fundamental freedoms, connected inherently with freedom of thought and speech. Cowards like you don’t deserve the benefits you enjoy, and you will surely complain about their absence when they are gone!
Re: Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
#60Many parents will not be proactive in protecting their children online and I think this is a legitimate societal problem. The idea of algorithmic feeds for adult content that descend into increasingly "engaging" depictions is something I find horrifying. I do not want my kids to experience those "loss of innocence" moments too soon by letting their curiosity lead them into things they are not equipped to confront yet…
Huh... I am the opposite. I want my kids exposed to the brutal realities of the world asap. I reflect that my innocence caused me to make some extreme major mistakes as a young adult that took a decade to show itself. I cannot go back, and now I am suffering terribly. I blame my parents at least a little bit, but I blame western idealism more majorly.
I am intrigued by this. I have long thought that exposing children to optimism and "what could be" allows them to envision a world different from our own. Kind of like how once you're in capitalism it's hard to think of alternatives.