Objections to systemd age-attestation changes go overboard (lwn.net)

LWN reports that a systemd pull request adding a user birthDate field to JSON user records for potential “age attestation” compliance has drawn unusually hostile backlash, including doxxing and death threats against the contributor. The article argues the change is just a data-storage option under local administrator control (not automatic age verification or third-party proof) and notes that similar ideas are emerging in other jurisdictions. It also contrasts legitimate concerns about privacy and portability with misinformation efforts that conflate attestation and verification and target systemd developers, while the final implementation was ultimately merged after discussion.