Comment by whateverboat
1 day ago
Is a repository on a linux machine an app store? Are custom repositories app stores? Does this mean that now most automated deployments are now not automated? If they can be automated, does that mean that having the automation by default makes sense?
The law defines a user as a child running software on a general purpose computer.
> “User” means a child that is the primary user of the device.
It’s definitely more vague that necessary, but I’d imagine courts would readily find automated software deployment by an adult or corporation does not constitute a child using the device. Especially if done for servers or a fleet. Because then it’s pretty obvious that a child is not the primary user of the computer nor the software. Even if that software is a server that involves childish activities (eg game servers).
But I’d imagine that Linux package managers associated with a desktop operating system provider would fall under this law. And that raises questions about the software distributed by said package managers.
Flat packs are fucked…
What’s going to happen when there’s no UI, just a shell, and they pacman -S <mything>? This law is unconstitutional based on criteria of vagueness. If they want it to stick, they need to call out the commercial app stores of Microsoft, Apple, Google, etc where a credit card is attached. Otherwise it’s too vague a term unless they define “store”.
This doesn't follow. There are clear technicaö means to achieve complience in all of these scemarios. All those installers can, for example, check a file in /etc to determine the pirported user's age. If this does need external verification, this file can be signed by a third party identity checking service.
If the distros ship this mechanisms enabled in their binaires, but the users install circumvention tools (e.g. a package manager without checking mechanisms) from a thurd party, the distro provider should be off the hook.
Android systems use Linux as their operating system, and the law applies to operating systems.
Android has associated app stores, therefore Linux must follow this at account setup ..
(I'm mostly hoping I'm just jesting here, that they'd surely not enforce it in this way, plus, who "provides" my Linux OS?)
In any event, it does seem like a very silly overreaching law, that should be highlighted, pointed out, and laughed at.
PS I have not read the law in question. I have read a PC Gamer article though, which is surely much the same.
Linux isn’t really an operating system but more the kernel of the OS. In this case, Android would be the OS.
Do you remember this copypasta?
https://www.reddit.com/r/copypasta/s/3nonwfDeyX
I remember it when RMS was shouting it from the rooftops.
I'm not sure that ART/Linux is any more catchy than GNU/Linux, but just as GNU wasn't the OS, neither is ART.
Don't get me wrong, these are all very silly pedantic arguments in the face of such a law.
Are you jesting? Honestly it could be. It's impossible to tell.