Nanny state discovers Linux, demands it check kids' IDs before booting
Summary
The Register opinion piece argues that age-verification laws targeting operating systems would force Linux vendors to collect or verify user ages, a move the author condemns as misguided and privacy-invasive. It cites proposed laws in US states, the EU, Brazil, and others, and surveys responses from Linux vendors like System76 and open-source distros such as MidnightBSD and Adenix GNU/Linux. The article contends such measures are ineffective, threaten digital rights, and may drive users toward workarounds like VPNs.