The best Linux distro for you probably isn't the one everyone recommends

California's Digital Age Assurance Act is set to begin enforcing comprehensive age-verification checks from early 2027. Operating systems are required to perform age checks on users to restrict certain functions. In response, some Linux developers feared a crisis. However, an amendment to Assembly Bill 1856 has now been passed, exempting open-source operating systems from compliance.

This amendment passed with a 39-0 vote, but with a curious inclusion. It specifically exempts operating systems or applications distributed under licenses that permit copying, redistribution, and modification from being called "operating system providers." This technicality means Linux users can evade verification on a definitional basis.

The amendment also ensures that operating system providers only collect the minimum necessary information to comply with age checks, preventing excessive surveillance. While Linux and its various distros are exempt, the exemption of Valve's SteamOS remains unclear. SteamOS is based on Linux but includes proprietary elements, meaning it can't be copied, redistributed, or modified.

Even if SteamOS is exempt, users will still have to verify their age through Steam when playing specific games on Steam Machines or Steam Decks. The bill was initially introduced in February with a definition including Linux but was altered before passage. Exempting open-source operating systems could have significantly affected their adoption in California, especially in Silicon Valley.

Over recent years, various age checks have been implemented, with Discord preemptively agreeing to verification, though it already had the necessary information. This has raised concerns, yet it avoids requiring users to provide IDs or biometric data to the company. Discord's move has been met with skepticism, particularly after ties to Palantir.

In the UK, the Online Safety Act has been in full force this year, requiring individuals to verify their age on their phones for full access. Linux's user base has been growing due to Microsoft's challenges, and evading age checks is another step for the operating system. While 2026 may have been the year of Linux, it seems it might have two years in a row.