The full text for HR 8250, the proposed Federal law which would require all Operating Systems to implement Age Verification, has just been made publicly available. It is short, poorly written, clearly not at all thought out, and almost entirely devoid of specifics. Some key points: - The bill does not specify how age verification would work at all. It states that the Federal Trade Commission would have 180 days to specify the exact mechanism and requirements for Age Verification within the Operating Systems. - The Federal Trade Commission would also specify data storage protection requirements as well as requirements for how the Operating System must provide access to collected user data. - This bill would apply to ALL Operating Systems. Everything from Windows to Linux to embedded systems. Yes, even to a smart refrigerator. The “Operating System” definition is incredibly broad. - The law will be considered in effect 1 year from the date it is enacted. - Violations of the law will be handled under the Federal Trade Commission Act. - It is given the “Short Title” of “Parents Decide Act”. congress.gov/bill/119th-con…
