this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2026
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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.
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I'm in the same spot and I don't have any answers haha. I'm on Fedora too, although I've been meaning to switch to another distro for a while now.
I think that there's a distinction between upstream/downstream, and direct/indirect links between technologies though. The internet comes from military technology, but it's a really broad system of protocols that itself is a communications technology. I don't think that it's possible to moralize the act of connecting to and exchanging data with a server; it's more relevant what is being connected to and how those connections are being used.
I think you could also make the same argument about Linux, in the sense that many corporations contributing to the kernel (or to packages like systemd) are deeply connected to imperialism and fascism. Is it immoral to use any distro at all?
For me distinction between this line of reasoning and the discussion about Fedora / Red Hat is that Fedora is upstream of RHEL, and users participate in the process of testing and fixing issues with software that's later used by militaries and corporations. The potential issue with this is that the user is (unknowingly) taking an active role in the production of a commodity used to kill. Even if you never report bugs, share any data, or contribute anything, it feels icky to use the distro (at least for me).
As for the age verification laws, the reality is that larger distros with corporate or non-profit owernship structures will be likely to comply out of obligation, while smaller distros might feel less pressure to comply. It's the same with the issue of sanctions compliance, where Red Hat and the Linux Foundation had an obligation to restrict contributions from users in sanctioned countries. The issue is almost entirely top-down and in the hands of lobbying corporations like Meta. Legislation like this is made to make it feel like non-compliance means financial ruin, which may be the reality as OSS isn't exactly profitable. I still think that compliance with it would be wrong, but it's not like any of these distros directly participated in pushing these bills, and we still have to wait and see what comes of all this so it's speculation. Either way I'm not super happy about Fedora right now