> Trying to tell Bob Hacker writing an OS in his basement what features his code has to include feels a little too authoritarian for my tastes.
This is the one thing that risks getting the law struck down by a court.
This is the one thing that risks getting the law struck down by a court.
Anyway, I suspect Bob Hacker has a strong case that such a law as applied to himself would be beyond the scope of Interstate Commerce. Until he tries to sell or make his OS widely available, at least.
Just off the top of my head, something like "physical hardware with web access sold in the US without an ID check at the checkout counter must include this feature in its preinstalled OS" would be a better way to write the law in my opinion. Plenty of ways around it if you're a hobbyist or for some reason really don't want to comply, but a big enough hassle that all the major commercial OS providers would probably find it easiest to just include the feature. (Especially since this is a feature most parents would probably appreciate anyway.)
we know, for sure, that Clarence Thomas takes bribes. You think Facebook wouldn't cut him a check? Ditto for plenty of other Trump-installed justices on all levels.