The age verification law AB 1043 in California threatened to require identity checks for any software with access to sensitive content. The amendment AB-1856 offers a reprieve by excluding Linux distributions under open-source licenses. However, the proprietary Steam client on SteamOS could fall outside this exemption, raising doubts about its legal future in the state. The vote is scheduled for June 2026.
The technical exemption and the proprietary client problem ⚖️
Amendment AB-1856 defines as exempt anyone who distributes software under open-source licenses. This covers distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora. The problem arises with SteamOS: the base system is open source, but the Steam client is proprietary software and functions as an app store. According to the current wording, Valve could be considered a distributor covered by the law by offering said client, which would require implementing age verification on its platform. The technical community is closely following the legal definitions.
When the penguin is saved but Gabe Newell sweats 😅
So Linux users breathe a sigh of relief: their favorite distro won't ask for ID to update the kernel. But if you play on SteamOS, get your ID card ready along with the controller. Valve will have to decide whether to remove the Steam client from its system or hire an army of lawyers to convince California that Proton is not a store, but a technological miracle. Meanwhile, Arch Linux users still haven't noticed because they're compiling the kernel.