Since open source OSes don't really distinguish between users and developers: thinking your age to yourself effectively verifies your age with the OS developers.
The whole thing seems like a no-op to me. --Stephen On Wed, Mar 04, 2026 at 05:42:26PM -0500, Gabe Bauer wrote: > Hello! > > I assume that somebody has likely already informed Theo about the new > operating system level age verification law that takes effect in California > starting January 1st of next year? > > There are also similar efforts making their way through Colorado and New > York at the moment. > > Most pressingly, a bill with hefty fines for non compliance (about 9.6 > million USD), which is enough to completely sink the OpenBSD Foundation and > project, and it takes effect starting thirteen days from now. > > Are there any proposed solutions to this? > > I believe the Brazilian law is more stringent on what is required to comply > with the measure, including, correct me if I am wrong, actual government ID > submission, which is likely not feasible for a default OpenBSD > installation. > > Does the OpenBSD project plan to implement the necessary measures to comply > with these laws, or will they take the route of MidnightBSD, by simply > stipulating in the license that people in these areas are not allowed to > use the software? > > This is VERY important to me as I am sure it is to you, too, as I am sure > all of us would like to see projects like this one to continue to exist. > > I am fairly certain that the California law likely violates the US > constitution, but may go unchallenged. > > I am less certain about the constitutionality of the Brazilian law within > its own borders. > > I hope this project does not suffer an unkind fate. Thank you for your > attention to this matter!!
