BTW System76, the company behind their Linux laptops and the Linux desktop COSMIC, was fighting hard against the law to make exemptions for Open Source software. That’s important for them, because System76 operates in California. So I think they are big part to thank for here: Colorado and California Exempt Open Source from Age Attestation (May 2026)
Microsoft switching to a Linux kernel in…
Why do you assume that Microsoft doesn’t want to comply?
Expense of getting and staying compliant.
I don’t think that is a problem for Microsoft, especially because they would want your ID and age, tracking you as much as possible already. Also you don’t just change the Kernel just like that, there are licenses attached, drivers and other stuff. From technical point of view, in current implementation it is probably impossible. Let alone Microsoft would face issues with compatibility. If we put the technical difficulties aside, I don’t even think Microsoft is against this law and pretty much wants it.
This is good news. But why make this distinction? Why is this ok for FOSS but not other platforms?
Also private platforms are more likely to abuse this information.
I haven’t been following this particular law, but I’ve always wondered how it would have been implemented for servers.
Even windows has a server edition I believe, if a corporation is using a windows server, would one of their IT employees have to verify it themselves?
What about IOT operating systems, docker/podman containers, router firmware, and so on. Not sure if they address these things in the legal code or not.This is good new for california, I believe atleast colorado has a similar law being proposed as well. Hope they take notes from cali.
Is it even technically possible to enforce it on open-source application, with code readily available for tweaks and modifications?
GPL edition of Windows coming when?
