this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2026
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Fork time? Maybe all the anti-systemd zealots were right all along...

Edit: To address whether it is likely that this change will affect users: Gnome is planning a stronger dependence on userdb, the part of systemd where this change is being implemented. https://blogs.gnome.org/adrianvovk/2025/06/10/gnome-systemd-dependencies/

Final Edit: The PR has been merged into main.

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[–] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 132 points 1 week ago (6 children)

In my opinion, storing a date is pretty much irrelevant unless there's a process that validates the supplied date, otherwise every Linux user was born on 1/1/1, if not, an administrator can "fix" that

Furthermore, that systemd thinks that it's the place to store such information is in my opinion beyond absurd.

Who appointed that project the source of age truth in the Linux ecosystem? What discussion was there, who was consulted and where was the vote?

[–] skyline2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 91 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Exactly. This is a massive overreach, and it is crazy that Poettering is even considering merging this.

[–] JovialSodium@lemmy.sdf.org 55 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I would say the majority of objections to systemd pertain to perceived overreaches of the project (perceptions I generally share). So in that sense, it is kind of on brand.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 week ago

it is crazy that Poettering is even considering merging this

You've, uh, seen systemd, right? Cmon; this is just one more section for the cancer to eat.

[–] eleijeep@piefed.social 19 points 1 week ago

He thinks that systemd is desktop linux.

[–] Marasenna@lemmygrad.ml 10 points 1 week ago

and it is crazy that Poettering is even considering merging this.

Not familiar with him then?

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 38 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You're right that asking a user for a date is next to useless. However, that isn't a reason to not fight this stuff. Asking the user for the date is step one to getting people accept it. After that they'll point out that people were lying, and they'll need our government ID to verify (and link us to activity). It's all a step towards a surveillance network tracking every move you make on your computer.

[–] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 11 points 1 week ago

I understand your point and agree that this is the thin end of the wedge.

What we're doing here is discussing the phenomenon and I'm highlighting some concerns.

I believe that this is how you get a dialogue happening which will effect change, which is what we're both advocating.

I think that age verification is about surveillance rather than protecting children and I think it should be fought at every level.

This is me contributing to that fight.

[–] marcie@lemmy.ml 32 points 1 week ago (1 children)

1/1/1

every linux user is jesus confirmed

[–] blueduck@piefed.social 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Everyone knows Jesus was born one 0001-12-25

[–] Lysergid@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago

Is he dumb? It’s been almost 12 months since A. D. started. What was he waiting for

[–] Decq@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago

Come on, you know it's going to be 1/1/1970 most of the time.

[–] njordomir@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

They haven't fessed up yet that that's part of their plan. I expect to hear from them after they've passed the first half.