GoKawiilCalifornia Assembly Bill 1856 exempts Linux and open-source OS from age-verification law
California's Assembly passed Bill 1856, amending the Digital Age Assurance Act to exclude operating systems and software meant to be freely copied, redistributed or modified from mandatory age-verification requirements. This shields most Linux distributions, though derivative projects with proprietary layers like Valve's SteamOS may still need to comply. The bill also fixes the DAAA's overly broad definition of 'user' and restricts sharing of age data to law enforcement requests.
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The original DAAA risked burdening community-driven open-source projects with compliance costs and technical requirements they aren't equipped to handle, potentially discouraging OS development in California. By carving out an exemption, lawmakers acknowledge the practical difference between commercial OS vendors and open, collaborative software, while still holding companies like Valve accountable for age verification tied to proprietary services.
- Bill 1856 amends California's DAAA to exempt open-source and freely modifiable software from age-verification mandates.
- Standard Linux distributions are largely exempt, but hybrid projects like SteamOS with proprietary components may still need compliance.
- The law also narrows the definition of 'user' and limits age-data disclosure to law enforcement, ahead of DAAA's January 1 effective date.
Raspberry Pi 5 Single Board Computer — If California's new age-verification rules have you thinking about open-source alternatives, the Raspberry Pi 5 is the friendliest on-ramp to running Linux on your own hardware. It boots a full desktop distro from a microSD card, drives dual displays, and doubles as a tinkering platform for everything from retro gaming to home servers. A great way to actually own and modify the software you use.
See Raspberry Pi 5 Single Board Computer on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techspot.com — Alfonso Maruccia, 2026-09-01
Published there as: “California exempts Linux and open-source software from new age verification law”
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