A new California state law requires all operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, to have an age verification ...

The law's broad definition of an "operating system provider" pulls in not just Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, but Linux distributions and Valve's SteamOS.

Assembly Bill 1043 becomes a law in California in January 2027, and will require every operating system to have age verification in account setup.

California has taken a major step into the evolving debate over how to protect minors online, approving a far-reaching law that will change how digital platforms handle age data.

The Linux desktop has continued its slow growth. Linux has been making gains in no small part because of Microsoft Windows' blunders. Users and governments have been losing trust in Windows and ...