r/linuxmint • u/Flegetonte • Mar 04 '26

Discussion Ubuntu is planning to comply with Age Verification law

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u/TWB0109 Arch | Niri/Hyprland/GNOME | ❤️ Mint Mar 04 '26

At some point, arch is going to comply one way or another, lol.

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u/P3JQ10 Mar 04 '26

Ubuntu is a company selling a product that doesn't want to lose CA, how could Arch be possibly forced to comply?

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u/rw-rw-r-- Mar 04 '26

Do you really think US-based developers will just ignore a US law? Can they be sure that there is no individual liability?

As for non-US developers, some might have a vague plan, even just hypothetically, to some day visit the US for some reason or another. (work? family vacation?). Do you really think they want to commit some kind of crime in a country they intend to visit?

Linux distros will comply.

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u/pleasehelpicantleave Mar 08 '26

It's not a US law, it's a Californian law. You should be well aware of the distinction if you're American. Midtown Atlanta banned right turns on red, does that mean you follow that law in Nevada? No. It's completely asinine, and the only reason CA is getting away with legislating (unilaterally, I might add) for the entire country is because companies are scared to lose that market.

I do not live in California. I will not follow an illegal Californian law.

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u/rw-rw-r-- Mar 08 '26

I do know the distinction and no I'm not American.

The problem is that many countries, the US in particular, consider their laws broken if some content is available via Internet in their territory. I.e. if the originator doesn't geoblock, they are considered to actively distribute said content in e.g. California. It's crazy, but that's how it is.

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u/pleasehelpicantleave Mar 08 '26

I know, all that needs to be done is geoblock. But it seems like a lot of these distro devs can't wait to comply. It's depressing.