MidnightBSD has updated its license to ban users in regions mandating OS-level age verification, starting with Brazil (March 2026) and California (January 2027) 🌍.

The open-source BSD project cites privacy and legal risks, warning that more areas like Colorado and New York could follow 🔒.

🔗 https://itsfoss.com/news/midnightbsd-age-verification/

#TechNews #MidnightBSD #BSD #OpenSource #Privacy #Security #FOSS #Regulation #Compliance #UserRights #Freedom #Software #Internet #Policy #Innovation #DigitalRights

#MidnightBSD Excludes California from Desktop Use Due to Digital Age Assurance Act ostechnix.com/midnightbsd-... #BSD

MidnightBSD Excludes Californi...

#MidnightBSD Excludes California from Desktop Use Due to Digital Age Assurance Act

https://ostechnix.com/midnightbsd-excludes-california-digital-age-assurance-act/

#BSD

MidnightBSD developers are building system tools like aged and agectl to comply with age-verification laws including Digital Age Assurance Act.

More details here: https://ostechnix.com/midnightbsd-age-verification-tools/

#MidnightBSD #aged #agectl #daemon #commandline #DigitalAgeAssuranceAct #AgeVerificationLaw #Legal #Compliance #BSD #Unix

Downloading midnightBSD

When the download progesses slowly as in log 1 just resume from a closer server as shown in log 2

log 2

curl --verbose -C - -L -o MidnightBSD-4.0.3--amd64-disc1.iso https://ns3.foolishgames.net/ftp/pub/MidnightBSD/releases/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/4.0.3/MidnightBSD-4.0.3--amd64-disc1.iso
** Resuming transfer from byte position 44871680
% Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current
Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- 0:00:05 --:--:-- 0* Trying 52.1.67.188:443...

• Connected to ns3.foolishgames.net (52.1.67.188) port 443 (#0)
• ALPN: offers h2,http/1.1} [5 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (OUT), TLS handshake, Client hello (1):} [512 bytes data]
• CAfile: /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
• CApath: /etc/ssl/certs{ [5 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Server hello (2):{ [122 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Encrypted Extensions (8):{ [25 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Certificate (11):{ [2603 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, CERT verify (15):{ [264 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Finished (20):{ [52 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (OUT), TLS change cipher, Change cipher spec (1):} [1 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (OUT), TLS handshake, Finished (20):} [52 bytes data]
• SSL connection using TLSv1.3 / TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384
• ALPN: server accepted http/1.1
• Server certificate:
• subject: CN=ns3.foolishgames.net
• start date: Dec 15 04:25:18 2025 GMT
• expire date: Mar 15 04:25:17 2026 GMT
• subjectAltName: host "ns3.foolishgames.net" matched cert's "ns3.foolishgames.net"
• issuer: C=US; O=Let's Encrypt; CN=R13
• SSL certificate verify ok.
• using HTTP/1.1} [5 bytes data]> GET /ftp/pub/MidnightBSD/releases/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/4.0.3/MidnightBSD-4.0.3--amd64-disc1.iso HTTP/1.1> Host: ns3.foolishgames.net> Range: bytes=44871680-> User-Agent: curl/7.88.1> Accept: /> { [5 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Newsession Ticket (4):{ [297 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Newsession Ticket (4):{ [297 bytes data]
• old SSL session ID is stale, removing{ [5 bytes data]< HTTP/1.1 206 Partial Content< Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:21:41 GMT< Server: Apache/2.4.66 (MidnightBSD) OpenSSL/3.0.18< Upgrade: h2c< Connection: Upgrade< Last-Modified: Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:22:35 GMT< ETag: "3ecf2000-64c5bc8cf7da6"< Accept-Ranges: bytes< Content-Length: 1008889856< Content-Range: bytes 44871680-1053761535/1053761536< Content-Type: application/x-iso9660-image< { [7812 bytes data]100 962M 100 962M 0 0 1217k 0 0:13:29 0:13:29 --:--:-- 1507k
• Connection #0 to host ns3.foolishgames.net left intact

EOL2

log 1

curl --verbose -C - -L -o MidnightBSD-4.0.3--amd64-disc1.iso https://discovery.midnightbsd.org/ftp/releases/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/4.0.3/MidnightBSD-4.0.3--amd64-disc1.iso
% Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current
Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- 0:00:07 --:--:-- 0* Trying 145.239.254.58:443...

• Trying [2001:41d0:800:73a::1]:443...
• Immediate connect fail for 2001:41d0:800:73a::1: Network is unreachable
• Connected to discovery.midnightbsd.org (145.239.254.58) port 443 (#0)
• ALPN: offers h2,http/1.1} [5 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (OUT), TLS handshake, Client hello (1):} [512 bytes data]
• CAfile: /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
• CApath: /etc/ssl/certs{ [5 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Server hello (2):{ [122 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Encrypted Extensions (8):{ [25 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Certificate (11):{ [2087 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, CERT verify (15):{ [79 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Finished (20):{ [52 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (OUT), TLS change cipher, Change cipher spec (1):} [1 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (OUT), TLS handshake, Finished (20):} [52 bytes data]
• SSL connection using TLSv1.3 / TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384
• ALPN: server accepted http/1.1
• Server certificate:
• subject: CN=discovery.midnightbsd.org
• start date: Feb 21 03:25:55 2026 GMT
• expire date: May 22 03:25:54 2026 GMT
• subjectAltName: host "discovery.midnightbsd.org" matched cert's "discovery.midnightbsd.org"
• issuer: C=US; O=Let's Encrypt; CN=E7
• SSL certificate verify ok.
• using HTTP/1.1} [5 bytes data]> GET /ftp/releases/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/4.0.3/MidnightBSD-4.0.3--amd64-disc1.iso HTTP/1.1> Host: discovery.midnightbsd.org> User-Agent: curl/7.88.1> Accept: /> { [5 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Newsession Ticket (4):{ [297 bytes data]
• TLSv1.3 (IN), TLS handshake, Newsession Ticket (4):{ [297 bytes data]
• old SSL session ID is stale, removing{ [5 bytes data]< HTTP/1.1 200 OK< Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:17:47 GMT< Server: Apache/2.4.66 (MidnightBSD) OpenSSL/1.1.1w-midnightbsd< Last-Modified: Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:22:35 GMT< ETag: "3ecf2000-64c5bc8cf7da6"< Accept-Ranges: bytes< Content-Length: 1053761536< Content-Type: application/x-iso9660-image< { [7901 bytes data]2 1004M 2 30.1M 0 0 224k 0 1:16:25 0:02:17 1:14:08 246

Sources

https://midnightbsd.org/

https://midnightbsd.org/notes/

https://midnightbsd.org/download/

#UNIX #BSD #freeBSD #midnightBSD #ghostBSD #programming #distribution #technology #OpenSource

Midnight BSD

age verification

$FreeBSD: src/COPYRIGHT,v 1.6.2.1 2006/02/08 09:11:57 ru Exp $

@(#)COPYRIGHT 8.2 (Berkeley) 3/21/94

The compilation of software known as MidnightBSD is distributed under
the following terms:

Residents of any countries, states or territories that require age verification
for operating systems, are not authorized to use MidnightBSD.

This list currently includes

• Brazil, effective March 17, 2026,
• California, effective January 1, 2027
• will include Colorado, Illinois and New York provided they pass their currently proposed legislation.
• We urge users to write their representatives to get these laws repealed or replaced.

Copyright (C) 2006-2026 The MidnightBSD Project. All rights reserved.

Sources:

https://midnightbsd.org/

https://github.com/MidnightBSD/src?tab=License-1-ov-file

#midnightBSD #midnight #BSD #freeBSD #age #verification #programming #technonoly #mathematics #OpenSource

MidnightBSD is not taking any chances with age verification. 😲

https://itsfoss.com/news/midnightbsd-age-verification/

#opensource #midnightbsd #bsd

Just stumbled on http://bsdsec.net and damn, it’s perfect.All the security advisories & errata from #OpenBSD, #FreeBSD, #NetBSD, #MidnightBSD and the rest… all in one dead-simple page.
👉https://bsdsec.net

(more Linux and FOSS news in previous posts of thread)

Rust 1.94 introduces array windows, Cargo config inclusion, and TOML 1.1 support in Cargo:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/3/rust-1-94-introduces-array-windows-cargo-config-inclusion-annd-toml-1-1-support-in-cargo/

DBeaver 26.0: AI filter settings, bug fixes & Salesforce currency support:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/3/dbeaver-26-0-ai-filter-settings-bug-fixes-and-salesforce-currency-support/

FosseryWeb progress report:
All Java cheatsheet pages are now generated using the new page-builders tool, to make the code more consistent, and also to test the tool, discover bugs, edge cases. HTML, CSS and JavaScript cheatsheets will also be regenerated, although the CSS ones have a bit more "unique" elements like images, figures consisting of HTML and CSS code, etc., will see if I can make those be generated with the tool, or if they will still require manual work.
https://fosseryweb.codeberg.page/@beta/cheatsheets/java/
https://fosseryweb-min.codeberg.page/@beta/cheatsheets/java/

Vulkan 1.4.345 Released With New ARM Shader Instrumentation Extension:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Vulkan-1.4.345-Released

libavif 1.4 Released For Advancing AVIF Image Support:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/libavif-1.4-Released

/e/OS 3.5 released with LineageOS 22.2 base, WebAssembly support, and FairPhone 6 upgrades:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/2/-e-os-3-5-released-with-lineageos-22-2-base-webassembly-support-and-fairphone-6-upgrades/

3mdeb Making Progress On AMD Ryzen AM5 Motherboard Port With Coreboot + openSIL:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/3mdeb-Ryzen-MSI-Port-Progress

GNU Hurd On Guix Is Ready With 64-bit Support, SMP Multi-Processor Support "Soon":
https://www.phoronix.com/news/GNU-Hurd-64-bit-2026

Haiku OS Pulls In WiFi Driver Updates From OpenBSD, Other Improvements In February:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Haiku-OS-February-2026

FreeBSD 15.1 On Track With Better Realtek WiFi & KDE Desktop Install Option:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/FreeBSD-15.1-Realtek-KDE-Wins

NetBSD 11.0-RC2 Released For Testing:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/NetBSD-11.0-RC2-Released

MidnightBSD blocks downloads from California due to the Californian age verification law:
https://nitter.privacyredirect.com/midnightbsd/status/2027101491211718765

Redox OS Gets Vulkan & Node.js Working On This Rust-Based Open-Source OS:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Redox-OS-February

#WeeklyNews #OpenSource #FOSSNews #OpenSourceNews #FOSS #News #Rust #DBeaver #FosseryWeb #Vulkan #Libavif #eOS #3mdeb #GNUHurd #Guix #Haiku #FreeBSD #NetBSD #MidnightBSD #RedoxOS #AgeVerification #OS #OperatingSystem #Programming #Cheatsheet #FosseryTech

Ubuntu, Fedora e Linux Mint puntano alla verifica dell'età in mezzo alle critiche della legge della California: la legge impone agli sviluppatori di adottare misure di verifica dell'età per i minori

Le comunità #Ubuntu, #Fedora e #LinuxMint stanno discutendo dell'impatto della legge californiana. Allo stesso tempo, altri sviluppatori di sistemi operativi, come #MidnightBSD, hanno deciso di escludere completamente il mercato californiano

https://9to5linux.com/ubuntu-fedora-linux-mint-eye-age-verification-amid-california-law-backlash

@gnulinuxitalia

MidnightBSD bans California desktop users from 2027 due to Digital Age Assurance Act's mandatory age APIs and $7,500/child fines. 🛠️

Small open-source teams can't afford compliance, so they modify licenses to exclude the state entirely — stark warning for FOSS under heavy regulation. 🛡️

🔗 https://ostechnix.com/midnightbsd-excludes-california-digital-age-assurance-act/

#TechNews #Privacy #Linux #BSD #AgeVerification #OpenSource #Regulation #FOSS #California #DigitalRights #Cybersecurity #MidnightBSD

RE: https://mastodon.social/@nixCraft/116181272366681491

Goddamn !

Good thing I'm not from there, nor am I American...

#california #midnightbsd

For following discussions around the pre-#dystopian #AgeVerification laws / bills:

Brazil: #Law15211
California: #AB1043
Colorado: #SB2651
Illinois: #SB3977
Michigan: #HB4429
New York: #S8102A
Utah: #SB0142

#digitalidentity #identityverification #1984 #Dystopia #gnuLinux #Linux #BSD #FreeBSD #MidnightBSD #FreeSoftware #GNU #OpenSource #System76 #Purism

Disclosure: My source for most of these unfortunately rhymes with BumPuke...

@bobulous

See the widely publicized announcement by the developer of #MidnightBSD, which precipitated a lot of people, including me, into looking at the actual law.

https://nitter.net/midnightbsd/status/2027101491211718765

The only people concerned with free software, apparently, as the bill made its way through the #California legislature, were Oakland Privacy, and they were only interested in 'gratis' free software on the Google and Apple Stores and the impacts on its development.

The various committee analyses are on that legislature page, and they give the objectors's objections. I have yet to find a mention of BSDs, Linux-based operating systems, or even Unix.

Goodness knows what #IBM is going to do about #RHEL and #RPM. Clearly they completely missed a very important lobbying opportunity. I wonder if the IBM legal people know about this even yet.

@ariadne @RunxiYu @reallyflygreg @toddalio
#USLaw #CaliforniaLaw #FreeSoftware #RedHat

"California residents are not authorized to use MidnightBSD for desktop use in the state of California effective January 1, 2027. California law CA AB1043 requires a complex age verification system implemented for operating systems with no exceptions for small open source projects. At this time, we don't have development time or a plan in place for this."

# $FreeBSD: src/COPYRIGHT,v 1.6.2.1 2006/02/08 09:11:57 ru Exp $
#	@(#)COPYRIGHT	8.2 (Berkeley) 3/21/94

The compilation of software known as MidnightBSD is distributed under
the following terms:

California residents are not authorized to use MidnightBSD for desktop use
in the state of California effective January 1, 2027.
California law https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1043/id/3269704
CA AB1043 requires a complex age verification system implemented
for operating systems with no exceptions for small open source projects. 

Copyright (C) 2006-2026 The MidnightBSD Project. All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
are met:
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGE.

#MidnightBSD Excludes California from Desktop Use Due to Digital Age Assurance Act ostechnix.com/midnightbsd-...

MidnightBSD Excludes Californi...

#MidnightBSD Excludes California from Desktop Use Due to Digital Age Assurance Act

https://ostechnix.com/midnightbsd-excludes-california-digital-age-assurance-act/