this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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They’re basically minimum-viable products that by design can be used to violate the law in California when the Act goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

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[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 36 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Can someone eli5 the idea? I don't get it, even after reading the page. But now I want one.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 40 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They're breaking evil age verification laws on purpose as civil disobedience with cheap hardware

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 20 points 2 days ago (1 children)

OK, the disobedience was the part I didn't get. Thank you!

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Insofar as part availability isn't insurmountably impacted this also constitutes functional resistance to all manor of censorship and surveillance. If you can code, test on one of these

I can, but I probably won't, because my backlog is full and overflowing. But it is cheap... damn.

[–] DFX4509B@lemmy.wtf 18 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

It's protestware, which is great.

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 10 points 2 days ago

I agree, but now I am torn because I'm protesting the US as a whole right now.

[–] jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 days ago (3 children)

California is adding a requirement for age verification for operating systems (or something like that) so each one of these violates that law by booting into linux.

[–] dan@upvote.au 14 points 2 days ago

Not just California. Several other US states are considering (or will be rolling out) similar laws, and Brazil's version has already rolled out this month.

This was the part I got. But I wondered how that would help?