Government Regulations California amendment would exempt Linux from age verification law May 27, 2026 Share By SC Staff (Spectral-Design via Getty Images) A California amendment bill aims to exempt most mainstream open-source Linux distributions from the state's upcoming age-verification requirements. The original Digital Age Assurance Act, passed in late 2025, was designed to shift the burden of age verification from individual websites to the operating system level. Under the law, operating systems would be required to request a user's age bracket during device setup, which would then be exposed to apps and stores offering age-restricted services, according to Tech Radar. The Linux community had raised concerns that the open-source nature of the software, lacking commercial ownership and centralized account infrastructure, would make enforcing such a policy difficult. The proposed amendment redefines "operating system provider" to exclude entities distributing software under licenses that permit user modification and redistribution, effectively exempting Linux. This means commercial operating systems like Windows and macOS will still be subject to the law. The amendment also extends the Act's scope to include browser providers and website operators, and mandates that OS vendors share only the minimum necessary information. The amendment bill is currently in its early stages and requires passage through two legislative chambers. Source: Tech Radar SC Staff Related Government Regulations Dutch government blocks US IT giant’s acquisition of cloud provider SC Staff May 26, 2026 The Dutch minister for the digital economy announced a complete prohibition on the acquisition, which would have allowed Kyndryl to purchase Solvinity for an undisclosed sum. Government Regulations FTC begins enforcing Take It Down Act for nonconsensual deepfakes SC Staff May 15, 2026 The Take It Down Act mandates that online platforms remove nonconsensual intimate imagery and AI-generated "digital forgeries" within 48 hours of a victim's report. Government Regulations South Staffordshire Water fined nearly $1.3 million over data breach SC Staff May 13, 2026 The cyberattack on South Staffordshire Water Plc was initiated through a phishing attempt that allowed attackers to install undetected malware for nearly two years. Get daily email updates SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news Business Email By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Subscribe Related Terms Business Impact Analysis (BIA) British Standard 7799 Chain of Custody Competitive Intelligence Data Custodian Due Care Due Diligence You can skip this ad in 5 seconds