Comment on System76 on Age Verification Laws
mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 16 hours agoThis won’t fix that.
we’re talking about providing the option to limit access to mature content, not preventing them from downloading python or using the internet.
We’re talking about stopping adults from using a computer without surrendering their privacy. Whatever excuses you make about that, will not last. This is a flying leap down a slippery slope, and it won’t even fucking work.
PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works 15 hours ago
The California law is a local flag for age range. Its not a law that requires ID, or tracking, or anything else like that. Given that its set by the user optionally, and from my understanding illegal to use for anything but age verification, I don’t understand how this is that negative for privacy or freedom.
mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 15 hours ago
And it stops here. Yeah? Today is the end of history. Nevermind any resemblance to rampant demands for facial scans and government ID, just to use a website; this demand for every computer to be 18+ will never cause problems.
Have you ever taken a hint in your life.
PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works 14 hours ago
This is a slippery slope falicy. Just because the option is provided to self-identify age, doesn’t mean that it will be replaced with more complex data collection later - esspecially considering that if its based on this law, it would be literally impossible. 4a bans the collection of data from your system besides age, and the fact that it is all handled locally and sharing it is prohibited means that it would be impractical to implement anything fancier than a text box to collect data. If anything, this looks like a way to be seen “doing something” without having to change anything for most users. Hell, if California wantted to implement a law for data collection, why would they have implemented the CCPA, why would they have written this law to ban the sharing of data, and why wouldn’t they just write the data collection law instead, given (as you said) there is already significant backing for the idea.
mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 12 hours ago
The worst-case scenario is already happening - aforementioned facial scans are not theoretical. Only their scope has been limited, and suddenly we’re talking about legally-mandated age gating at an OS level.
Pattern recognition is a requirement for survival.
Many abuses start small so that people like you will let it happen. Some caveats only exist for you to point to while bickering with critics, and when you’re not looking, they quietly vanish. Others were just empty words the whole time.
This law is not some compromise over widely-demanded change. It would be a pointless intrusion even if, by some miracle, it stopped right here. It will not stop here. Be serious. You lived through last year; you know the general state of everything. These exact companies have been spying on you. These governments sure aren’t stopping them, for some mysterious reason. Scoffing about blindingly obvious expectations is a choice of comforting fantasy over worthwhile argument.