Selective enforcement. Basically if they want to do shit to you they will prosecute you, otherwise they won't bother.

I can't wait for my microwave to ask me to take off my glasses, face the camera, and turn my head slowly from left to right.

The only platforms for now where this might work are Windows, macOS, iOS, and stock Android, however as Muta hypothesized, if this extends to hardware-level, a law could just mandate SecureBoot and lock out the ability to implement custom keys, and then only allow a short list of state-approved OSes to boot on the hardware, which no doubt Windows would be on that short list.

Similarly, all non-Apple mobile devices as an extension to that could be locked exclusively to stock Android, eliminating custom ROMs like LineageOS or GrapheneOS as an option entirely, let alone mobile Linux distros.

They will make it a crime to not have any OS that is not compliant, that simple.

"(1) Provide an accessible interface at account setup that requires an account holder to indicate the birth date, age, or both, of the user of that device for the purpose of providing a signal regarding the user’s age bracket to applications available in a covered application store.

Sounds like it’s a text box that enter input into. Making it completely pointless.

Imagine you’re not allowed to use your washing machine if you’re under 18.

The law only specifies "computer, mobile device, or any other general purpose computing device."

Which is extremely vague. It appears that the intention was to just affect end user devices. Not specific purpose systems.

Eveny single website running should do this, and refuse to display for Californians

I'm a parent and legit think that majority of parents should not have been parents and have no minimum required skill to raise a human being. It's sad because it's really not that hard but most people don't think a day ahead when raising their kids and just follow a "vibe", so spending a weekend on parental controls is an insurmountable task.

As usual, the solution is education. Parental education needs to be prioritized imo. That said, I have no idea how we would implement such a thing. Most likely better general education would help at least.

Just want to clarify that nowhere in the actual law does it require verifying the age of the user. It does not require IDs or face scans.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1043

Please read it. It is a very short law <15 minute read tbh.

The law does exactly what you ask for. Parents setup the device and put their child's age. If they lie or circumvent the system then the parents get fined if their child is affected by content on the internet.

Everyone needs to realize that all the age verification stuff is just a step towards the purpose, which is having any and all computer operation tied to the person — i.e. as Cory Doctorow has put it, the war on general computation.

As a Californian parent, I'm teaching my kids to use Linux to be safer against surveillance and control. It is 100% my responsibility because I chose to have children and let them use computers. It's a dangerous world out there.

IDs in databases get leaked.

They will make exceptions for themselves. Like how none of the laws passed in the UK apply to the military, politicians, and police. Even for their own personal use.

Too bad that reproductive harm doesn't work eliminating the birth of politicians

Tbf every single politician is.

People wonder why the Dems are unpopular. 2 of my Dems here in Colorado are pulling the same OS age gate shit right now. What I want to know is: "who fucking asked for this?". Everyone seems to be doing it at the same time, but many people don't want it. Smells fishy. Let's not elect these assclowns to anything ever again. Why are you doing authoritarian shit when we elected you to advocate on our behalf.

In my book, a take that extremely authoritarian and unconstitutional should end your political career instantly. You can watch it all on your TV at home like every other clueless boomer (shout out to the boomers who are with it, actually understand, and care). How can we send people to represent us who will openly sell out our and our children's futures for a few thousand dollars in campaign contributions?

Curious for what it's a distraction, eh?

Ye, now I've got a reason for hating him as well.

I think it's from proprietary OS makers that want to squash open source competition.

The law only specifies "computer, mobile device, or any other general purpose computing device."

Which is extremely vague. It appears that the intention was to just affect end user devices. Not specific purpose systems.

And I don't understand, because windows already does this and has for years. I don't live in California though, so I don't know the particular nuances they are asking for.

The problem is, and has always been, getting parents to use the tools. So unless you're sending parents to jail for not doing this, then it's totally optional and most won't use it.

If you want screentime limits, content filters, browsing history, restricted programs, age verification, wallet control, friends list filters, etc. It exists and is available on Windows and Xbox for free.

I agree. This doesn't seem any more egregious than clicking a button on a website that says "I am over 18".

But also, every FreeDos install ,server, managed network switch, IoT device, gas pump, etc. now needs to verify user age.

Also, it has to make "reasonable" effort to verify the age. Maybe just asking your age isn't considered reasonable by the state. Since the law doesn't lay out what to do, anything you do might become unreasonable depending on the winds of the day.

But why do they assume that I am going to create an account to simply use an OS?