System76 Finds a Saving Grace

I'm Jeremy from System76. We are in talks with legislators and there are likely to be amendments to the age verification bills, as well as conflicting requirements in different jurisdictions. It may even be the case that open source operating systems are exempted entirely. I detailed this on the xdg mailing list here: https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/xdg/2026-March/014797.html I have other concerns about this specific implementation. By relying on systemd, which is decidedly unportable to non-Linux operating systems, and not used across all Linux operating systems either, it will force at least one alternative implementation to exist. If these implementations end up having to collect jurisdiction specific requirements, that makes it much harder for compliance.

A screenshot of a GitHub-style comment from Jeremy at System76 discussing possible amendments to age-verification laws and the chance that open-source operating systems may be exempt. The joke is that the uploader reacts to this technical and legal possibility as a “saving grace,” especially because systemd-based implementation requirements could create portability and compliance problems. EN: A screenshot of a GitHub-style comment from Jeremy at System76 discussing possible amendments to age-verification laws and the chance that open-source operating systems may be exempt. The joke is that the uploader reacts to this technical and legal possibility as a “saving grace,” especially because systemd-based implementation requirements could create portability and compliance problems.

• @gentoomemes / 20388 2026-03-19