Blog

News from HeliumOS

HeliumOS needs your help!

HeliumOS is an atomic, Linux-based operating system that provides users with a desktop experience using the KDE Plasma desktop environment.

Recent laws enacted by various State Governments in the United States have increased the burden for builders of desktop operating systems. Unfortunately, this includes HeliumOS.

We'll take a look at 3 relevant laws: California's AB-1043, Colorado's SB26-051 (proposed, not yet passed), and Louisiana's HB-570.

Disclaimer: I am not a legal professional.

Regarding California:

  • The HeliumOS project may be considered an "Operating system provider" (g) “Operating system provider” means a person or entity that develops, licenses, or controls the operating system software on a computer, mobile device, or any other general purpose computing device.

  • This may obligate HeliumOS to (1) Provide an accessible interface at account setup that requires an account holder to indicate the birth date, age, or both, of the user of that device for the purpose of providing a signal regarding the user’s age bracket to applications available in a covered application store.

Regarding Colorado:

  • Similar to in California, HeliumOS may be considered an "Operating system provider" in Colorado. (9) "OPERATING SYSTEM PROVIDER" MEANS A PERSON THAT DEVELOPS, LICENSES, OR CONTROLS THE OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE ON A DEVICE

  • This may obligate HeliumOS to: (a) PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE INTERFACE AT ACCOUNT SETUP THAT REQUIRES AN ACCOUNT HOLDER TO INDICATE THE BIRTH DATE OR AGE OF THE USER OF THAT DEVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING AN AGE SIGNAL TO APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE IN A COVERED APPLICATION STORE; (b) PROVIDE A DEVELOPER THAT REQUESTS AN AGE SIGNAL, WITH RESPECT TO A PARTICULAR USER, THE TECHNICAL ABILITY TO CALL AN AGE SIGNAL VIA A REASONABLY CONSISTENT REAL-TIME APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE;

Regarding Louisiana:

  • Because software and configuration of the KDE Discover Software Center is distributed by HeliumOS, HeliumOS may be considered a "Covered application store provider" (8) "Covered application store provider" means a person who owns, operates, or controls a covered application store that allows users in this state to download applications.

  • Additionally, HeliumOS may be considered a "Mobile operating system" (13) "Mobile operating system" means software that does all of the following: (a) Manages mobile device hardware resources. (b) Provides common services for mobile device programs. (c) Controls memory allocation. (d) Provides interfaces for applications to access device functionality.

  • Unlike California and Colorado's laws, HB-570 may not just require HeliumOS to provide age indication, but age verification. (a) Request age information from the individual. (b)(i) Verify the individual's age category using commercially available methods that are reasonably designed to ensure accuracy, including but not limited to a means of verification provided through the use of a real-time age verification system authorized by the commissioner of the office of motor vehicles. (ii) For individuals under eighteen years of age, a method is commercially available if it includes affirmative age attestation by someone who is reasonably believed to be the parent or legal guardian, along with other information collected in the ordinary course of account creation or use.

What's next?

The obligations imposed on operating systems such as HeliumOS by this legislation potentially compromise user privacy and artificially increase technical complexity and obstacles.

As a small project, HeliumOS is particularly at risk of facing legal penalties due to non-compliance, voluntary or involuntary. There is a a real possibility that HeliumOS may be forced to shutdown over the coming year with these laws coming into effect as early as 2026-07-01 (HB-570) and 2027-01-01 (AB-1043).

Please contact your legislators to inform them of the critical issues with this legislation:

We'll keep you posted of any relevant updates. Thank you to the community for your support so far!

Return to blog RSS Feed