userdb: add birthDate field to JSON user records by dylanmtaylor · Pull Request #40954 · systemd/systemd
github.com
Stores the user's birth date for age verification, as required by recent laws in California (AB-1043), Colorado (SB26-051), Brazil (Lei 15.211/2025), etc. The xdg-desktop-portal project is addi...

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.

  • CrackedLinuxISO@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    446·
    2 days ago

    Has anyone even looked at the PR? Why is there such a big stink about adding an optional birthday field to a JSON schema? It’s opt-in and can’t be validated in any way.

    That’s like saying OpenSSL is the thin end of an anti-encryption wedge because they provide FIPS compliant modules. Or complaining that it puts your privacy at risk when you generate an SSH key and it asks for your address.

    The problem is the laws getting passed, not with software that gives people a choice about whether to comply.

    • Soot [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
      1·
      10 hours ago

      By implementing a mechanism that enables this law, it becomes exponentially easier for lawmakers to then make it mandatory (as many already have/are openly planning to).

      Yeah, the problem is the lawmakers. But I don’t have enough money to control the lawmakers. The creators of free software should not actively helping oppressive measures.

    • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml
      2·
      1 day ago

      The problem is the laws getting passed, not with software that gives people a choice about whether to comply.

      Is it going to give a choice, though? As more and more of these laws are passed, soon people will have no choice. Open-source software was supposed to be about freedom, and I see this as anything but that.

    • skyline2@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
      242·
      2 days ago

      Yes, the PR specifically calls out the laws as the reason for this change. The problem is BOTH the laws getting passed, and corporate interests complying in advance.

    • Atomic@sh.itjust.works
      223·
      2 days ago

      Personally, I just don’t like the taste of asslicking in my distributions. Time to change to a non systemd distro.

    • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
      104·
      2 days ago

      The problem is the laws getting passed, not with software that gives people a choice about whether to comply.

      OK, but the law didn’t even get written. That asshole decided to open up and deepthroat the boot before it even entered the room.