For those interested on the question of age verification and GNU/Linux: be aware that Systemd v261-rc1 was recently released. It now implements an optional birth date field in the JSON user database (see second item under “Other changes”).
The implementation of this field was prompted by age-verification or -attestation laws.
Because it’s a legal requirement in some areas now.
That Linux has to have this? B. S. There’s no way that could be enforced. Make every edition an alpha testing release. Make it not work. Whatever you have to do. Just don’t capitulate and immediately do their exact bidding.
But who is checking? Last I read, these laws were created in a few states as a preventative measure against potential Federal laws that could push these issues even further. I haven’t heard of any enforcement plans to date or anything about how it should report, just “add age verification to operating systems.”
It’s not up to the systemd team to decide for you what your risk tolerance is. They’re just providing a means to be compliant should you want/need it.
This is a take I think makes the decision make more sense to me (if this is the reasoning), letting the user opt into compliance rather than forcing their hand.