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● TRACKER Updated 14d ago · 8 sources tracked

California Passes AB-1856 For Open-Source Relief Over Age Verification

California lawmakers unanimously passed Bill AB-1856 to exempt open-source operating systems from the state's upcoming age-verification requirements. The law redefines operating system providers to exclude software distributed under Apache, BSD, MIT, and GPL licenses. While Linux and other open-source projects are exempt, commercial providers including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows must comply with the age-gating rules by January 2027. This legislative move ensures that open-source developers are not burdened with implementing ID checks for users.

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  • ✓ California lawmakers unanimously passed AB-1856 to exempt open-source software from age-verification laws.
  • ✓ Software distributed under GPL, MIT, BSD, and Apache licenses is exempt from the law.
  • ✓ Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android must comply with age-verification rules by January 2027.
  • ✓ The law redefines operating system provider to exclude open-source software.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 8 independent reporting domains (100% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

California lawmakers unanimously passed AB-1856 to exclude open-source software from age-verification mandates.

Live updates

  1. California Passes AB-1856 Exempting Open-Source Software from Age Verification

    California lawmakers unanimously passed Bill AB-1856 to exempt open-source operating systems from the state's upcoming age-verification requirements. The law redefines operating system providers to exclude software distributed under Apache, BSD, MIT, and GPL licenses. While Linux and other open-source projects are exempt, commercial providers including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows must comply with the age-gating rules by January 2027. This legislative move ensures that open-source developers are not burdened with implementing ID checks for users.

    Why it matters

    The bill aligns California with Colorado, which implemented a similar open-source exemption earlier this year. It addresses the technical and legal impossibility of requiring decentralized open-source projects to verify user ages.

    What is confirmed

    • California lawmakers unanimously passed AB-1856 to exempt open-source software from age-verification laws.
    • Software distributed under GPL, MIT, BSD, and Apache licenses is exempt from the law.
    • Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android must comply with age-verification rules by January 2027.
    • The law redefines operating system provider to exclude open-source software.

    What to watch next

    • Implementation of the age-gating law on January 1st
    • Compliance actions taken by commercial OS providers before the 2027 deadline
    Sources used for this update (8)
    1. Phoronix — California Passes AB-1856 For Open-Source Relief Over Age Verification
    2. Linuxiac — California’s Age Verification Bill Passes with Linux Exemption Intact
    3. Tom's Hardware — California lawmakers unanimously pass Linux exemption from age-verification law — software distributed under the GPL, MIT, BSD, and Apache licenses are exempt
    4. heise online — California exception: Not just Linux will no longer check IDs
    5. www.yahoo.com — California Exempts Linux from Age Verification
    6. www.mv-voice.com — Saving Hollywood? California to restore access to tax break for independent films
    7. www.theverge.com — California unanimously passed a Linux age verification exemption.
    8. www.techspot.com — California exempts Linux and open-source software from new age verification law
    confidence 100%
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