this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2026
353 points (82.3% liked)
Linux
64053 readers
764 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
You could just put a fake date in at user setup from what I understand. It adds the field to the user database but there isn't any verification that that date is true
We were all born on 01/01/1970
I think it's blatantly obvious we weren't born on January 1970, year 1. January only has 30 days, not 1970.
Can't wait for us to be able to access ultra-porn by 2130
I’ve heard somewhere that they’ll require a constant api calls from each system to an external verification system that is even paid. I don’t remember where I read this but if that’s the case then we are fucking doomed.
"I’ve heard somewhere that they’ll require a constant api calls from each system to an external verification system that is even paid"
or what? you can't use the software store? most of the stuff on there is open source and you can compile it yourself
if it comes down to it you can just compile your own kernel that doesn't do that.
what about airgapped systems?
It just doesn't work
You have a valid point.
Yes, it's exactly like the realName and location fields that have been in UNIX/Linux for over 60 years.
It's incredibly clear who is being whipped up into a frenzy by social media clickbait. Your birthDate is not nearly as privacy-destroying as your real name, location, office number, home phone number, e-mail address, etc. These fields have been in Linux since the beginning and, like birthDate will be, are typically left blank and ignored.
If you wanted to throw on your tinfoil hat you could ask 'Well what if, in the future, some bad guy forced you to actually put your REAL NAME in the realName field?' That's basically what is happening in this thread, in addition to brigading a lynch mob on a systemd developer.