Valuable News – 2026/03/23

[vermaden]

Original article here.
Consider this when replying.

FreeBSD, The FreeBSD Foundation, and The FreeBSD Forums are not associated with the content of this article.

 

[rootbert]

I have never been anti-Linux, however, what is is going on with systemd is just pathetic ... age-verification in the init system of an operating system.

 

[Alain De Vos]

We are the SYSTEMD. Resistance is futile.
We will accumulate your social security number & copy of your ID card.
To integrate into our collective.

 

[Emrion]

I have never been anti-Linux, however, what is is going on with systemd is just pathetic ... age-verification in the init system of an operating system.

Alas, there is a clear motion worldwide. It's possible that one day, you may have only two choices for using internet or even a computer: renonce to be anonymous or follow an outlaw path. The consequences would be terrible.

I think that it's coming and I hope I'm wrong.

 

[scottro]

Much as I dislike systemd (I've seen it said, though I don't have enough knowledge to comment intelligently that Poettering knew a lot about C, but nothing about system administration) in this case I don't think it can be blamed on systemd, but on government over reach. I don't know what one can do save to vote, when elections are possible. But in this case, it seems like both parties in the US, at least, are just as ignorant about technology.

 

[sidetone]

what is is going on with systemd is just pathetic ... age-verification in the init system of an operating system.

There's some state California law that applies to operating systems. One of the desktop BSD's put it in their license that it can't be used in California, bc they didn't want to get fined over some regulations.

Much as I dislike systemd (I've seen it said, though I don't have enough knowledge to comment intelligently that Poettering knew a lot about C, but nothing about system administration) in this case I don't think it can be blamed on systemd, but on government over reach.

It may not be the fault of SystemD, but it shows a flaw of it that everything gets tied together. Where there isn't this California law, others get stuck with it, due to using SystemD.

 

[Espionage724]

FreeBSD on WSL might be cool! With Windows infrastructure I need something for php-posix (I'd prefer to not have systemd anywhere)

---

Diablo II on UE5 looks interesting; I'd totally try that in VR (comment mentioned Barbarian whirlwind )

 

[Beastie]

I don't know what one can do save to vote, when elections are possible. But in this case, it seems like both parties in the US, at least, are just as ignorant about technology.

These laws have either been voted already or are about to.
Good luck overturning them, especially when practically all tech corporations support this (and are probably behind it), when wacky activists support this (and are definitely behind it), and when both parties support this in one form or another (because hands are being greased).
Some want it in the app stores, some want it on websites, some want it in the OS. But everyone wants it: that's the crux.

I don't think it can be blamed on systemd, but on government over reach.

It may not be the fault of SystemD, but it shows a flaw of it that everything gets tied together.

The law is overreach... and putting this stuff in systemd is stupid from a software engineering perspective. systemd has been a catch-all for many years and at this point it's getting absurd.

One of the desktop BSD's put it in their license that it can't be used in California, bc they didn't want to get fined over some regulations.

MidnightBSD.

Where there isn't this California law, others get stuck with it, due to using SystemD.

Bingo. That was the whole point all along.

 

[sidetone]

Come to think of it, NetBSD has in its terms that it can't be used in a few countries. You can see it if you ftp to its website from the console. There's another BSD license which doesn't allow code exported from the US (or maybe it was from the US and friendly countries) bc it contains government code. MidnightBSD's terms in response to a California law is an extreme scenario of this.

 

[Beastie]

Come to think of it, NetBSD has in its terms that it can't be used in a few countries. You can see it if you ftp to its website from the console. There's another BSD license which doesn't allow code exported from the US (or maybe it was from the US and friendly countries) bc it contains government code.

You're referring to this disclaimer?

Please note that portions of this FTP site contain cryptographic
software controlled under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
of the United States of America.

None of this software may be downloaded or otherwise exported or
re-exported into (or to a national or resident of) any country
to which the U.S. has embargoed goods. Also, people personally
on the block lists of the United States Department of Treasury
or the United States Department of Commerce are prohibited.

By downloading or using said software, you are agreeing to the
foregoing and you are representing and warranting that you are not
located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any
such country or on any such list.

That's been the case for a long time for all cryptographic materials coming out of the US. Such materials were initially classified as military equipment. Then, for decades, they were regulated as dual-use items and only acquired their current status with Clinton's signing of an EO in 1996.

 

[sidetone]

You're referring to this disclaimer?

I believe so. I may be mistaken about what specifically was under these and similar terms.

 

[drhowarddrfine]

This may be the third time I mentioned it here but I believe the internet will eventually be licensed and regulated in the same way or fashion that radio and TV airwaves are regulated. The internet today is like the wild west of radio back when it first became viable and every amateur technologist had a radio station.

 

[Alain De Vos]

Just add some lawyers, it will even become better

 

[Alain De Vos]

.

 

[sidetone]

Some hour after midnight around 2 or 3am in the US, not sure if there's certain days of the week (perhaps not on weekends when a lot of people are up), they're allowed to play a lot of uncensored content on the radio. Many radio stations don't though. Depends on the programming. The idea is that children are sleeping during those hours to not hear it. They broadcast this disclaimer about the FCC. You'd have only come across this if your schedule has you up during these hours listening to the car radio, by tuning radio stations to listen to. I've never run into this any other time, even after I heard it on the radio. It's because you'd have to activately be tuning in on it, during these hours, and there's limited programming that does this. The content is something which you would hear from a CD with the "parental advisory" label or XM/Sirius radio

Wild would be like the dark web though, as opposed to rated R or parental advisory.

Then, there's amateur ham radio. There's less rules for how to broadcast, as anyone can without a license, though, I'm unsure about censored content there. Unless there's unlawful activity, no one would bother to regulate that. FreeBSD magazine has an article about amateur ham radio, but not this aspect of it.

 

[Alain De Vos]

Lol, here in Belgium , we are not like that, but its against forum guidelines to discuss cultural differences.
Maybe now more "hypocresie" here then before. When i was young , 13 years my farther let me drink beer. Good idea, now i know dangers
Fun fact, i worked for innovative software company in Belgium, subsidury of US company but for market Europe&middle east.
Boss tells first day of work take plane to New-York. I arrive , Limousine, here this will be your company car.
Nice i say, gone eat a tasty T-bone steak. I order a beer. Waiteress asks me my passpord to verify i'm off age. For me cultural shock.

 

[Alain De Vos]

Trauma for rest of my life.