this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2026
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The stupid thought I keep having is what stops someone from patching the functionality out?
You do not even need to patch it out. It is basically an extra entry in the user db (think: /etc/passwd). Just don't fill it in and you are done, just like your location and a ton of other stuff you can put there if you want to.
Nobody can read it outside your system either... it's a defined place when (not if -- not anymore) something wants to store that information. Better have a properly protected defined place ready than have 10 different programs request that info separately and store it all over the place.
Nobody has to patch it out. The OS just doesn't have to use them.
As long as the OS doesn't implement age verification, that field in systemd means nothing. Some OS will have to do that - especially commercial distros based in murica. So the change within systemd is largely inconsequential, but people are freaking out about it - most likely because they don't understand systemd and what it does.
Or people realise it's the thin edge of the wedge.
Look how much governments abuse data retention for law enforcement when the reason for storing the data is not for law enforcement.
If the functionality is already in the system then what is stopping more governments requiring it or expanding it.
Because having direct access to your system is something that would be incompatible with the constitution of most civilized countries and would therefore require massive legislative change. If a government is planning to do that, an additional field in systemd won't be the change that tips the scales.
The US government violates its own constitution all the time, that’s really not an impediment
Yeah sure, direct access to my system is unconstitutional. But bombing places for oil and slavery in prisons isn't. Nobody in power cares about your constitution. Be happy that your civilized constitutional country takes care about all these terrorists in the middle east lol.
/RANT
If it means nothing, then why adding it?
Because some OS vendors based in the US might have to comply with the law, if you like it or not. System76 or RedHat will not have a choice unless the laws will get repelled.
The law is unenforceable though.
Bro how the fuck is the law not enforceable if you're a company in the US? You either comply or get sued. It's just that simple. How is that so hard to understand?
Then I guess applications will just ask you to put your date like steam does instead of pulling the number you inputed from the system. Makes me wonder how many people were born on 1/1/1900 according to steam
I'm here wondering if it will be a good time to switch over to Devuan
LOL. Do you really think that because that thing is supported for commercial distros like RHEL, it would have any impact on the Debians etc. of the world?
Yes. But don't do as I do and try to patch an existing Debian 13.3 to Devuan on a Friday the 13th by following the instructions on the Devuan site. It didn't pan out and eventually required a reinstall after I tried to fix it all weekend.