One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: CA's #AB1856 Exempts #OpenSource But Expands Age-Gating

After public outrage, #California lawmakers are moving closer to exempting open source operating systems from the sweeping age-bracketing regime mandated by last year’s #DigitalAgeAssuranceAct (#AB1043 ). Nonetheless, the current bill still jeopardizes internet users’ speech, #privacy , and #security.
#ageverification

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/05/one-step-forward-two-steps-back-cas-ab-1856-exempts-open-source-expands-age-gating

Age verification expanding from websites to operating systems; California’s 2027 law requires OS setup age collection sharing age ranges to apps 🔐
OS-level age signals may enable app enforcement and future ID or biometric verification, raising privacy and open-source concerns 🔒

🔗 https://me.pcmag.com/en/security/37364/your-computer-may-soon-require-an-age-check-and-it-might-not-take-no-for-an-answer

#TechNews #AgeVerification #OperatingSystems #OS #Privacy #DigitalRights #California #California #Law #Tech #DataProtection #Surveillance #OpenSource #FOSS #Biometrics #BigTech #Regulation

#California moves to exempt #Linux from its upcoming #AgeVerification law after backlash

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/california-moves-to-exempt-linux-from-its-upcoming-age-verification-law-after-backlash-over-forcing-operating-systems-to-collect-users-ages-amendment-proposed-by-the-same-lawmaker-who-wrote-the-original-law

#privacy #FOSS #politics

Putting #Trump lackeys on the Chemical Safety Board has now resulted in dozens of deaths in #Tennessee and #Washington State, with thousands evacuated from Orange County, #California. https://apnews.com/article/paper-mill-explosion-washington-white-liquor-317b2491baf6e44c0a5f66ef98af31b5

#Resist #kakistocracy in #USpol.

Good news for a change.

California lawmakers pushed a new bill to exempt open-source projects from age verification law.

That would include Linux and BSD.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1856

#AgeVerification #California #OpenSource #FOSS #Linux #BSD

I photographed Mono Lake's tufa towers for their quiet contrast—ragged limestone rising from mirror-flat water against distant blue ranges. Tufa Reflections presents a calm, balanced composition that softens busy rooms and offers a steady pause in the workday.

Art/Website: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/tufa-reflections-mono-lake-beauty-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#MonoLake #Tufa #LandscapePhotography #FineArtPrints #WallArt #NatureDecor #OfficeArt #California #mastoart

System76 CEO Carl Richell says open-source software secured exemptions from age verification requirements in Colorado and California, raising new questions about Linux, privacy, and regulation.

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System76 CEO praises open source carveout in age verification laws

5/5
Each digitized page captures a chain of civic decisions from creation to preservation to public access.

Together they form a long record of how California communities have grown and changed over time.

#digitization #opengov #california #archives #localgovernment #UCBerkeley

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“Table 2F: Analysis of County Government Expenditures,” Page 52 in Contra Costa County’s 1963–64 Annual Financial Report

#California Moves To Exempt #Linux From Upcoming Age-Verification Law
#ageverification #privacy

https://linux.slashdot.org/story/26/05/26/0450245/california-moves-to-exempt-linux-from-upcoming-age-verification-law?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed

Colorado exempted open-source operating systems from 2028 OS-level age-verification rules, shielding Linux installs from mandatory checks. 🔓
California may add similar language before rollout, while Linux OEMs warn account-age mandates could pressure smaller vendors and user privacy. 🐧

🔗 https://fossforce.com/2026/05/the-quiet-clause-that-may-save-linux-from-age-verification-laws/

#TechNews #Linux #OpenSource #Privacy #AgeVerification #System76 #FOSS #GNU #Security #Surveillance #DigitalRights #Cybersecurity #DataPrivacy #Tech #Colorado #California #USA #Freedom

It’s easier for Californians to escape data brokers following a Markup investigation

https://themarkup.org/privacy/2026/05/22/its-easier-for-californians-to-escape-data-brokers-following-a-markup-investigation

#California #DataBroker #privacy #TheMarkup #BigTech

RE: https://fosstodon.org/@carlrichell/116636014360789023

kill all a̶g̶e̶ v̶e̶r̶i̶f̶i̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ commercial spying and stalking legislation

#California #Colorado #fascism #USpol

https://youtu.be/evcQFovuJNE

#california #sfba #socal #bus #buses #train #trains #caltrains

I photographed this La Jolla shore to show the quiet meeting of moss-covered rock and tide. Which detail draws you in — the green texture or the flowing sand? Would this calm view suit your living room or your workspace?

ART: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/tides-quiet-breath-la-jolla-california-coast-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#LaJolla #coast #seascape #oceanphotography #landscapephotography #beachart #longexposure #California #fineartphotography

#California bans Kars4Kids charity jingle for false advertising | CBC.ca

“California judge banned the airing of all Kars4Kids ads in the state over revelations the charity does not support local kids in need.

Instead most money goes to Jewish organization Oorah that provides youth matchmaking services and gap year trips to Israel.”

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7202165

#GM agrees to pay $12.75M in #California driver #privacy settlement

https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/09/gm-agrees-to-pay-12-75m-in-california-driver-privacy-settlement/

#cars

I shot this Ocotillo plant in Borrego Springs. The tall, spiny arms and long shadows portray quiet resilience beneath a wide blue sky. Do you prefer a bold focal plant or an open horizon? I think it would suit your space.

ART: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/ocotillo-cactus-desert-landscape-borrego-springs-california-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#ocotillo #desertphotography #borregosprings #california #landscapephotography #cactus #desertlandscape #fineartphotography #naturephotography #healingart #mentalhealthspace #meditativeart

Tidekeepers - La Jolla California Coast Monochrome

La Jolla California coastal landscape moody black and white fine art photography

ART: https://joegiacaloneart.pixels.com/featured/tidekeepers-la-jolla-california-coast-monochrome-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#LaJolla #seals #seascape #blackandwhite #ocean #waves #coastalart #california #CaliforniaDreaming

California Love🌅💗

I watched Sierra Nevada peaks blush at sunrise, rugged rock lit by soft pink light. This image presents the start of a new day and would add a warm, spirited accent to a room.

ART: https://joegiacaloneart.pixels.com/featured/blushing-peaks-sierra-nevada-sunrise-mountain-landscape-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#SierraNevada #mountains #landscapephotography #sunrise #alpenglow #nature #California #mountainart #fineartphotography #buyintoart

Encinitas Sunset Palm Trees Over Pacific Ocean

ART: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/encinitas-sunset-palm-trees-over-pacific-ocean-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#sunset #beach #palm #ocean #encinitas #california #sunsetphotography #seascape #coastalliving #healingart #mentalhealthart #meditationspace #interiordecor #mastoArt

Mickey Mouse is watching you: Disneyland deploys facial recognition

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/28/disneyland-entrance-facial-recognition

#privacy #security #surveillance #facialrecognition #disney #disneyland #california

Fine art by a native San Diegan. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.

ART: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/rock-star-splash-sunset-cliffs-natural-park-san-diego-california-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#ocean #coast #sandiego #sunsetcliffs #california #seascape #coastalphotography #naturephotography #coastaldecor #mastoArt

I chased clouds at La Jolla until the ocean agreed to perform. I love how the waves portray a rinse-and-repeat mood - patient and dramatic.

ART: https://joegiacaloneart.pixels.com/featured/la-jolla-california-seascape-moody-ocean-waves-over-rocky-shore-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#LaJolla #seascape #ocean #coastal #california #landscapephotography #naturephotography #MoodyArt
#mastoArt

I watched La Jolla throw a temper tantrum and thought, yes - ART. Black-and-white waves pour over rock like someone hit repeat on drama. I love how motion softens the clash between water and stone.

ART: https://joegiacaloneart.pixels.com/featured/tidal-whispers-la-jolla-black-and-white-seascape-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#ocean #waves #storm #clouds #blackandwhite #seascape #lajolla #california #fineart #monochrome #moodyart #mastoArt #buyintoArt

Ocean Beach Pier sunrise. San Diego, CA

This piece presents seaside whimsy and pink clouds that read like soft punctuation.

ART: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mossy-maze-pier-ocean-beach-pier-san-diego-california-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#seascape #coastalart #sunrise #California #landscapephotography #fineart #beachvibes #SanDiego #mastoArt

Wipeout Beach, La Jolla, CA perfection

I caught the La Jolla ocean hitting snooze - turquoise, slow, and oddly smug.

ART: https://joegiacaloneart.pixels.com/featured/sea-and-surf-whispers-la-jolla-california-coast-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#LaJolla #ocean #seascape #beachphotography #coastalART #oceanphotography #california #fineartamerica #mastoArt #BuyIntoArt

I gave San Diego a sunny-commute glow - skyscrapers caffeinated, palms laid-back, and highway lights doing salsa.

This ART piece puts golden hour on repeat: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/golden-hour-commute-san-diego-skyline-sunrise-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#SanDiego #Cityscape #Skyline #GoldenHour #UrbanArt #City #ART #California #blueskyart #fineartamerica #mastoArt

Act Now to Stop #California’s Paternalistic and #Privacy-Destroying #SocialMediaBan

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/act-now-stop-californias-paternalistic-and-privacy-destroying-social-media-ban

#SocialMedia #AgeVerification #IdentityVerification

#California Coastal Community Must Reject #CBP's #AI-Powered #Surveillance Tower

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/california-coastal-community-must-reject-cbps-ai-powered-surveillance-tower

#SanClemente #privacy #politics #Anduril

CalMatters: Websites break California privacy law at ‘industrial scale,’ survey finds. “A new audit has found that websites across the internet may be failing to abide by California privacy law, ignoring a requirement to not track visitors who set a privacy control.”

California lawmakers are advancing A.B. 1709, banning under-16s from social media and requiring ID or biometric checks for all users 🔒
The bill passed committees and nears a vote, raising risks to anonymity, free expression, and smaller platforms under strict compliance ⚖️

🔗 https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/act-now-stop-californias-paternalistic-and-privacy-destroying-social-media-ban

#TechNews #California #AB1709 #Privacy #DigitalRights #SocialMedia #Surveillance #Cybersecurity #FOSS #OpenInternet #Freedom #DataProtection #Encryption #Policy #Regulation

#California Coastal Community Must Reject CBP's AI-Powered #Surveillance Tower

Customs and Border Protection (#CBP ) is seeking permission from the California city of #SanClemente to install an #Anduril Industries surveillance tower on a cliff that would allow for constant #monitoring of entire coastal neighborhoods.
#privacy #ai #security

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/california-coastal-community-must-reject-cbps-ai-powered-surveillance-tower

Waterfall Waves at Sunset - La Jolla Coastal Seascap

A playful dialogue between water and rock - waves pouring over sandstone like a liquid curtain, cool motion balanced by warm pastel light.

Prints available in multiple sizes and finishes.

Fine Art Prints | Wall Art shop here: https://joegiacaloneart.pixels.com/featured/waterfall-waves-at-sunset-la-jolla-coastal-seascape-joseph-s-giacalone.html

Makes a calm focal point for any wall.

#ocean #sunset #coastline #LaJolla #California #seascape #fineartphotography #landscapephotography #mastoart

La Jolla Sunrise Seascape - Split Rock Channel Ocean Photography

Prints available in multiple sizes and finishes

Fine Art Prints | Wall Art shop here: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/la-jolla-sunrise-seascape-split-rock-channel-ocean-photography-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#LaJolla #seascape #coast #sunrise #fineartphotography #wallart #ocean #beach #California #MastoArt

@eff
I called my #California assemblymember's office to express opposition to AB 1709 & the aide who took my call said "That's Assemblymember Lowenthal's bill" and tried to get me to contact Lowenthal instead. Had to argue w/the aide that I opposed a bill that MY assemblymember was a co-author of, and I wanted my opposition recorded.

Last night, my city council voted unanimously to continue using #Flock’s ALPR system to surveil vehicles in #Sunnyvale #California #sfba. I have repeatedly voiced my opposition to my representative (who is exceedingly difficult to reach), but I guess they decided that “safety”, no matter the cost, is something worth spending my tax dollars on even when it means ICE may have access to our data.

I will vote against my incumbent representative next election. They are either craven, or gullible, or stupid, or worse, support this nonsense.

#surveillance #kakistocracy

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Facebook post by Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein: Last night, City Council voted unanimously to continue Sunnyvale’s use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) with FLOCK Systems, adding strengthened oversight and transparency measures. 🙏THANKS to all of the residents and business owners who spoke, and to those who stayed until 2am as we deliberated. Since their installation, ALPRs have generated over 28,000 alerts related to stolen vehicles, found missing persons, and discovered vehicles linked to criminal activity. The system has supported more than 140 investigations and contributed to 61 arrests. ALPR technology has also helped prevent and solve crimes, including identifying suspect vehicles in organized retail theft and robbery cases—such as the incidents involving jewelry stores last year. As part of our action, the Council affirmed that the system is not configured to share data with ICE or federal immigration enforcement nor has any data violation taken place. The Council’s decision follows along staff recommendations prioritizing privacy, transparency, and data security, including: • Annual independent IT audits of the system • Annual public reports to City Council • Ongoing compliance with state law and privacy protections

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Council also put in additional safeguards, if data breaches happen. This decision reflects Council’s commitment to balancing public safety, privacy, and accountability for our community. ALPRs are an important tool that our Sunnyvale DPS needs in order to help keep our community safe; we need to give our officers the TOOLS to do their job. Trust is a big thing. While residents and Council raised trust issues with FLOCK Systems, we have trust in City Staff to be vigilant and raise issues with Council (and inform us if/when there are viable alternatives). City Council needs to balance personal privacy with personal safety, and ALPRs provide a critical component to help keep our community safe. “Sunnyvale City Council Votes to continue FLOCK ALPR use”

RE: https://mastodon.social/@VeroniqueB99/116439062020351278

okay Vee, you win today’s #AltTxt #yaddayadda with this magnificent TL;DR of USians’ ignorance of politics:

❝ What American people think the political spectrum is:

Far Right: Trump
Right: Bush
Center: Bloomberg
Left: Warren
Far Left: Sanders

What actually is

Far Right: Trump, Bush, Bloomberg
Right: Warren
Center: Sanders
Left/Far-Left: anybody here gets killed by the CIA ❞

ps: this is why #California #Democrats need to nuke into oblivion billionaire parasite and Bloomberg buddie, Tom Steyer

I shot this on a blustery coastal afternoon. A weathered post and rusty wire form a heart that presents quiet resilience against the open sea. The rough wood and delicate wire reveal a fragile stubbornness I keep coming back to.

Prints available in multiple sizes and finishes.

Fine Art Prints | Wall Art shop here: https://joegiacaloneart.pixels.com/featured/barbed-wire-heart-on-wooden-post-coastal-seascape-joseph-s-giacalone.html

#barbedwire #coastal #coastalphotography #ocean #rustic #california #love #fineartphotography #wallart #CaliforniaCoast #CaliforniaDreaming #CaliforniaLove

I'm excited to give my first conference talk of the year this week at UC Open Source Summit in Berkeley!

For this brief talk I'll bring my love of activism together with disdain for surveillance capitalism, the surveillance state, and Big Tech, as well as my experience in secure open source communications — namely, Matrix and Signal.

Looking forward to seeing folks there!

https://ucospo.net/events/uc-open-2026/talks/communication-tools-surveillance-state/

#OpenSource #FOSS #Surveillance #Privacy #Security #Activism #Events #Matrix #Signal #California

Background checks to curb #dating app violence advance in #California legislature

https://themarkup.org/news/2026/04/17/dating-apps-would-bestow-scarlet-letter-under-safety-bill-advancing-in-the-california-legislature

#privacy #DatingApp

Palace Of Fine Arts/Columns And Curves

The Palace Of Fine Arts is one of ten structures of this nature built for the 1915 Pan-American Exposition in San Francisco California.
This is located in the Marina District of the city only a few blocks up off the San Francisco Bay.

https://pixels.com/featured/palace-of-fine-arts-columns-and-curves-bill-gallagher.html

#PalaceOfFineArtsColumnsAndCurves #BillGallagherPhotography #PalaceOfFineArts #SanFranciscoArchitecture #SanFrancisco #TouristAttraction #Tourism #BuyIntoArt #AYearForArt #California #Architecture

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Palace Of Fine Arts/Columns And Curves Warm late‑afternoon light pours across the Palace of Fine Arts, igniting the sandstone columns in a deep, honey‑gold glow. The architecture rises with a quiet, commanding elegance—massive fluted pillars curving into graceful arches that feel both ancient and impossibly alive. Shadows slip between the columns like soft velvet, adding depth and mystery, while the sky beyond opens into a clear, luminous blue that feels almost painted. There’s a gentle stillness in the scene, the kind that makes you instinctively slow your breathing. The trees framing the structure add a whisper of movement, their leaves catching the light like tiny green sparks. This photograph doesn’t just show architecture—it invites the viewer into a moment of serenity, history, and awe. It’s the kind of image that transforms a room: warm enough for a living space, sophisticated enough for an office, and timeless enough for collectors who appreciate classical lines and atmospheric light. Why buyers connect with this piece: It radiates calm, making it ideal for spaces that need grounding energy. The warm tones and clean architectural lines pair effortlessly with modern, rustic, or traditional décor. It captures one of San Francisco’s most iconic structures in a way that feels intimate, almost cinematic. The composition draws the eye inward, making it a natural focal point on any wall.

Audit finds Google, Microsoft and Meta set ad cookies on 55% of sites after opt-out, suggesting possible violations of privacy rules. 🔐
Companies dispute the findings, underscoring opaque tracking systems that limit user control and weaken transparency in dominant ad infrastructure. 🔍

🔗 https://www.404media.co/google-microsoft-meta-all-tracking-you-even-when-you-opt-out-according-to-an-independent-audit/

#TechNews #Google #Microsoft #Meta #Privacy #Security #Tracking #AdTech #Cookies #DataProtection #Surveillance #Transparency #FOSS #OpenWeb #Security #DigitalRights #California

"The only job available in Darwin is at the post office, and after the last postmaster died a few years ago, that position’s no longer even held by a town resident."

Tessa McLean for SF Gate: https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/darwin-ghost-town-21281656.php

#Longreads #California #SmallTown #GhostTown #DeathValley #Desert

I found a weathered board on the sand and watched sky and surf trade stories. Marine Street Beach in La Jolla, California.

Prints available in multiple sizes and finishes.

Fine Art Prints | Wall Art shop here: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/blue-surfboard-pause-la-jolla-coast-joseph-s-giacalone.html

A calm, adventurous addition to your space.

#surfboard #ocean #California #seascape #coastaldecor #LaJolla #coastalphotography #fineartphotography #CoastalCalifornia #MastoArt

#Google , #Microsoft , #Meta All #Tracking You Even When You #OptOut , According to an Independent #Audit

The #webXray #California #Privacy Audit viewed web traffic on more than 7,000 popular websites in California in the month of March & found that most tech companies ignore when a user asks to opt-out of #cookie tracking. California has stringent & well defined privacy legislation thanks to its California Consumer Privacy Act (#CCPA )…opt out of the sale of their info

https://www.404media.co/google-microsoft-meta-all-tracking-you-even-when-you-opt-out-according-to-an-independent-audit/

The 1 Hotel San Francisco: sustainably stylish in the city

https://lucire.com/insider/20260414/the-1-hotel-san-francisco-sustainably-stylish-in-the-city/
https://lucirerouge.com/2026/04/14/the-1-hotel-san-francisco-sustainably-stylish-in-the-city/

#SF #SanFrancisco #CA #California #USA #travel #hotel #Volante #sustainability

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1 Hotel San Francisco exterior.

RE: https://mastodon.social/@eff/116399759026619275

cannot say this enough:

Tom Steyer is running as a democrat in California to sabotage the other Democratic Party candidates, especially Katie Porter.

she would veto this legislation.

DO NOT TRUST THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ESTABLISHMENT.

the #California primaries are a referendum on #billionaires #techbros and ultimately, the kind of corporatist #fascism that passes for centrism in this country.

BILLIONAIRES ARE THE ENEMY. don't let Steyer hand California to the fascists.

Electronic Frontier Foundation » 🌐 2026-04-13
@eff@mastodon.social

Compared to other 3D printer laws proposed this year, California’s is the most troubling. It criminalizes open source, reduces consumer choice, and creates a new bureaucratic burden. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/dangers-californias-legislation-censor-3d-printing #opensource #3dprinting #AB2047