userdb: add birthDate field to JSON user records by dylanmtaylor · Pull Request #40954 · systemd/systemd
github.com
Stores the user's birth date for age verification, as required by recent laws in California (AB-1043), Colorado (SB26-051), Brazil (Lei 15.211/2025), etc. The xdg-desktop-portal project is addi...

Fork time? Maybe all the anti-systemd zealots were right all along…

Edit: To address whether it is likely that this change will affect users: Gnome is planning a stronger dependence on userdb, the part of systemd where this change is being implemented. https://blogs.gnome.org/adrianvovk/2025/06/10/gnome-systemd-dependencies/

Final Edit: The PR has been merged into main.

  • PieMePlenty@lemmy.world
    26·
    11 hours ago

    Looks like this is just for storing the data (birth date). Distros can use it and do age restriction or ignore it. Not a big deal imo. Its not like systemd does anything more with the date.

    • 0485@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      10 hours ago

      Yeah. I always use a fake date anyways so it’s not like it matters.

      • wewbull@feddit.ukEnglish
        13·
        8 hours ago

        Unless you’re randomising it constantly, it still becomes part of a fingerprint for you.

        • Jolteon@lemmy.zip
          21·
          1 hour ago

          The fingerprint is already pretty effective. Putting something like 01/01/1970 would add a small amount of precision, but likely not enough to make a difference.