Selling future's freedom for some money in the present

This post jokes with a creepy possibility of Linux getting a age verification, because in theory:

California AB 1043 and Illinois SB 3977 define "operating system provider" as "a person or entity that develops, licenses, or controls the operating system software on a computer, mobile device, or any other general purpose computing device." That covers Canonical, Red Hat, the Linux Foundation, Valve (SteamOS), and arguably anyone distributing a Linux ISO.

— https://old.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1rmhxk1/i_pulled_the_actual_bill_text_from_5_state_age/

BTW EFF describes 2025 as "the year of age verification". It's disgusting to imagine such thing, but worth reading:

Virginia’s SB 854, which also passed this year, took a different approach. It requires social media platforms to use “commercially reasonable efforts” to determine a user's age and, if that user is under 16, limits them to one hour per day per application by default unless a parent changes the time allowance.

How could something evil like this be accepted? I need to figure out how to fight against all this threat. As this post says, I can't chain my own allies with my complacency:

"Growth at all costs" will cost all of your principles, eventually.

This post is harsh — exceedingly harsh — in such way the author might seem kinda hypocrite, but it's true. I think there's is some good side of efforts towards software, but it's true: We're putting our future to sale, only to feel good in the present.

Maybe it's a opportunity to look back, take a step back, realize what really worth and take some hard decisions.

I can't deny, the situation is getting nastier each day it passes.

But you should resist — Encrypt. Now. — blog.tripu.info