do you think after the age verifcation bs computers will just have locked bios like phones and only boot windows?
2026-03-04 07:05 UTC
Replies (24)
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@Scipitie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-03-04 07:32
I don’t think it’ll come globally at all - even the most crazy laws I’ve read so far target “only” OS vendors. If it comes it’ll be regional only as manufacturers will be hell bent on not losing revenue in the rest of the world. Keep in mind that age verification needs to be done on a local level as there is no universal level of what is an acceptable method.
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@gilokee@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 07:34
There will always be a couple companies going against the norm and make open devices. Or computers that are fully customizable IE just stick a different hard drive in there or whatever. I don’t think this will ever happen, regardless.
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@DFX4509B__dup_13501@lemmy.wtf 2026-03-04 07:39
Windows will probably become a thin client/cloud OS as MS is already making moves in that direction with Windows 365 thin clients, and the fact that Win12 could be subscription-based.
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@lemmefixdat4u@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 07:42
Only if Microsoft acquires a major CPU chipmaker. There has to be a lot of vertical integration under one company, the way it is with Apple products. Otherwise there are other OS like Linux that comprise enough of the market to ensure there will always be an unlocked BIOS option.
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@RalfWausE@feddit.org 2026-03-04 08:04
I think this is what they really want. Perhaps it will come with the introduction of Windows 12, of course all for your “safety”. But luckily there is still a giant supply of old(er) computers out there that will happily run under Linux / BSD.
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@eskuero@lemmy.fromshado.ws 2026-03-04 08:05
They just need to push for thin clients that rely on cloud computing as the prices for consumer hardware make it not affordable to own your stronger hardware.
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@RIotingPacifist@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 08:41
I don’t think the CA law requires your OS verify your age, just that it requests the age of your user account during setup and has an API to provide that age range to app stores. …digitaldemocracy.org/…/ca_202520260ab1043 I don’t think it’s any more of a privacy violation than passing UserAgents
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@fozid@feddit.uk 2026-03-04 08:55
Nah computing as a service will be for the masses and mainstream user who doesn’t care, and they will have age verification and all the “security” measures included. The custom build and DIY setups won’t change at all. Any Linux / BSD distro can just be hosted in a territory that doesn’t require these “security” measures, then anybody who knows how to use them will be able to continue unaffected.
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@LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-03-04 09:14
It’ll work like this: theverge.com/…/apple-age-verification-uk-users-io…
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@savvywolf@pawb.social 2026-03-04 10:45
Does the age verification stuff matter for this? Microsoft, if they wanted to, could already lock down systems in this way.
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@schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 2026-03-04 10:50
It used to be that similar (and equally bad) ideas were getting traction because of copyright law, e.g.: en.wikipedia.org/…/Consumer_Broadband_and_Digital… Now other excuses for the same thing have been invented. I wonder which will be next.
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@0x0@lemmy.zip 2026-03-04 11:19
That’s what SecureBoot and TPM paved the way for.
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@bacon_pdp@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 12:52
The end goal of the elites is eliminating access to actual computers from the masses and using software to manipulate, spy on and control the masses. That is why libreboot and the Free Software community need active support. None of us can be free if any of us can’t choose freedom.
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@MNByChoice@midwest.social 2026-03-04 12:53
The computers in the store, yes. I expect all computers in the store to be phones and the cell company will verify. Open Source computers will be more important. Might need to brush up on wire wrapping… (Implication being that chip supplies might become dedicated to only those manufacturers that lock the product down.)
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@humanspiral@lemmy.ca 2026-03-04 14:52
Amazing how governments opposed to MAGA/US fascism, ensure the tools for fascism. I will choose “illegal” phone, computer, 3d printer.
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@utopiah@lemmy.ml 2026-03-04 16:19
Don’t buy computers with locked parts. Buy computers with non locked parts. Problem solved.
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@ell1e@leminal.space 2026-03-04 17:55
The EU wallet seems to just expect the user to have an Android phone with Google Play services that passes Google Hardware Attestation or an iOS phone, or you’re not a citizen: leminal.space/post/31858818/21120139
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@Phoeniqz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-03-05 01:10
Mainstream stuff? Yes. But there will always be devices catered towards enthusiasts that will be open.
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@meow@discuss.tchncs.de 2026-03-05 08:46
I pretty much don’t care about how the future of laptops looks like. If you are stupid enough to buy that shit, you get what you asked for
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@aksdb@lemmy.world 2026-03-05 10:43
No. Because the information is user provided and unverified, so there’s no reason to lock anything down that could increase security. Once they want attestation, they need a third party service involved, in which case the device being part of the trust-chain doesn’t make sense anymore.
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@BrilliantBadger@piefed.ca 2026-03-05 10:47
Legit concern , though why just Windows? Plausible its built right into the silicone of every device & unreliant upon an OS. Each country forcing manufacturers to build into the chipset whichever spyware they wish, registering each time its online. Many different angles, but the end game is clear. Most folks will just willingly be onboard with it, its “for the children”, right? Aso long as they control the masses that’s really all that matters to them. You bring up a great concern, and the cat & mouse game needed for android phones today with privacy focused roms shows the challenges that only get harder the further it gets baked into the chipsets.
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@BrilliantBadger@piefed.ca 2026-03-05 11:17
Legit concern & lots of good comments on the device side of things so I’ll just toss in that another perhaps far easier approach for fascist regimes would be to force telcos, ISPs to permit online access only once registered, similar to a hotel guest WiFi. Only of course more rigidly enforced & monitored. Thus removing the device itself from the equation, and using infrastructure as the chokepoint. Future generations are largely doomed by the apathy of the “we have nothing to hide” folks of today, or those who buy into the its “for the children” movement. Horrifying for the generations to come, as it all advances from multiple angles to 1984 reality
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@DieserTypMatthias@lemmy.ml 2026-03-06 06:44
Won’t happen, mainly because of the fact that some motherboard manufacturers cheap out on OS-level firmware upgrade (looking at ya, MSI) and some motherboard manufacturers have shitty Secure Boot configuration just for Win11 to let users install it.
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@Tattorack@lemmy.world 2026-03-06 08:46
Wouldn’t surprise me.