The Ageleless Linux distribution has been released, designed to counter laws mandating the addition of APIs for age verification in operating systems. Ageleless Linux is marked as a distribution for people of indefinite age, fundamentally non-compliant with age verification laws. Among other things, the distribution implements a placeholder for the age verification API, which always returns an indefinite age. <\/p>\n
The script become-ageless.sh is offered for installation, allowing the conversion of any already installed Debian GNU\/Linux into Ageleless Linux. The script replaces the file \/etc\/os-release and includes information about non-compliance with age verification laws (COMPLIANCE_STATUS=>refused, API_STATUS=>refused, VERIFICATION_STATUS=>flagrantly noncompliant), adds the directory \/etc\/ageless\/ with reports on violated laws, and implements a prototype of a bogus API to provide applications with information about users' ages. The API implementation boils down to the script \/etc\/ageless\/age-verification-api.sh, which returns the error \"ERROR: Age data not available\" for all requests, noting that all users in the system have an undefined age. <\/p>\n
As age verification mechanisms are implemented in distributions, the script intends to be expanded with means to remove or block such mechanisms in various distributions. For instance, in the case of the D-Bus interface \"org.freedesktop.AgeVerification1\" being implemented in Fedora Linux, the script will be adapted for use in Fedora to remove the handler implementing this interface or to provide packages with an alternative handler that returns an undefined age. Similarly, should age verification requests appear in the Ubuntu installer, the script will be extended to remove this request, and if Debian integrates age information transmission into AccountsService, the Ageleless Linux project will take on maintaining a modified fork of AccountsService. <\/p>\n
Laws that have been enacted or are in the process of approval, which mandate the implementation of age verification, do not prohibit the distribution of operating systems without age confirmation, but they provide for penalties to suppliers responsible for developing, licensing, or installing such operating systems. Upon running the script from the Ageleless Linux project, the user assumes the role of the \"supplier of the operating system.\" It is assumed that if a child uses a computer with Ageleless Linux, the user who installed this distribution could be considered a supplier who provided the operating system to the child without specifying their age at the time of account creation. In this case, it is assumed that there are no harmed children in such a situation, only individuals whose ages are unknown. <\/p>\n
The project also intends to distribute devices based on the Milk-V Duo S platform that comply with California Law AB1043 but intentionally do not meet its requirements. It is also planned to launch the application catalog store.agelesslinux.org, which will provide the ability to install a Python language learning environment, a text editor, the game 'Snake', an IRC client with a warning about the dangers of communicating with strangers, and an 8-line script 'peepee' that displays the word 'peepee' on the screen (it is assumed that installing such a script without age verification could result in a fine). <\/p>\n
The creators of Ageless Linux are trying to demonstrate the absurdity of the introduced age verification laws by distributing devices that explicitly, documentably, and willfully violate law AB1043, which threatens penalties. In January 2027, such devices are planned to be given away to children at school fairs and library events. It is noted that receiving a fine would unveil the essence of the convoluted formulations in the law better than any discussions and allow understanding whether a modifying system bash script falls under the definition of 'operating system provider', whether a specialized board is considered a general-purpose device, and whether fines can be imposed for 'each affected child' in the absence of a way to count the affected children. <\/p>\n
According to the project author, the laws being enacted regarding age verification are more of a protective barrier and a creation of a surveillance infrastructure than a concern for children's safety. Major manufacturers such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft already comply with the requirements of the proposed law, but these laws may lead to prohibitive costs for smaller OS manufacturers and projects developed by enthusiasts. In many cases, projects that have not implemented age verification find it easier to refrain from distribution in jurisdictions with such laws, as the costs for legal protection exceed the annual budget of most open projects. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that in several U.S. states, bills are being promoted that mandate the inclusion of age indication features in operating systems during account registration, and providing applications with an API to determine the current user's age group (under 13, 13 to 16, 16 to 18, and 18 and older) to comply with online child protection laws. Non-compliance with these requirements is subject to fines of up to $2,500 for unintentional violations and up to $7,500 for intentional violations concerning each affected child. <\/p>\n
The addition of an API for applications to request user age information is already being discussed by developers of the Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Linux Mint, and NixOS distributions. Specific solutions have not yet been adopted, but the implementation of the necessary API via xdg-desktop-portal or AccountsService with requests sent through the new D-Bus interface 'org.freedesktop.AgeVerification1' is being considered. The head of System76, which develops the Pop!_OS distribution, spoke with a Colorado state senator who is a co-author of the age verification bill, who suggested preparing amendments to the bill to exclude open-source software from its scope. <\/p>\n