Firefox’s free VPN rollout finally reached me – is it any good?

Firefox VPN.Firefox recently added a free built-in VPN to its desktop browser, but access to the feature is rolling out gradually. It hit my Ubuntu machine last night – and I’m last to be invited to anything, so I thought I’d write a quick rundown of what it actually does, what it doesn’t, and how to set it – assuming you have it. If you’re waiting for it to roll out to you, there’s no special update or download to look out for as this is a progressive rollout feature – Mozilla enables it remotely, in stages. There was no fanfare […]

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Enabling Ubuntu Pro from the OS setup tool is easier

Ubuntu Pro logoFurther to Ubuntu Pro features being added to the desktop Security Center, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS also makes it easier to opt-in to Canonical’s (free for home users) subscription to get extended security updates, right from the wizard shown after installation. The first slide in the distro’s Welcome tool (package namegnome-initial-setup, with Ubuntu-specific modifications) is Enable Ubuntu Pro. The tool opens the first time a user logs in after installing the OS. Signposting the feature in the Welcome tool makes it easier to enrol your system in Ubuntu Pro: The flow is presented simply: either select ‘Enable Ubuntu Pro’, or choose […]

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More new icons arrive in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

A couple of new icons have been added to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, to ensure the Resolute Raccoon’s new default apps sport a Yaru-ified look in keeping with the rest of the distro. Ubuntu’s new default system monitor tool Resources gains a new icon. In the Ubuntu 26.04 beta, the app was still sporting its upstream icon. That didn’t look out of place per se, but shape did not conform to the Yaru icon template (circle, squircle or upright rectangle). That’s now fixed. Still identifiably a system monitor, but uses the round template with less busy scale markings and simpler gauge […]

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Linux App Release Roundup (March 2026)

Linux mascot holding a bag of apps.March 2026 meted out a sizeable set of Linux software releases, including updates to FOSS stalwarts GIMP, digiKam, Krita and Blender. Major new releases were covered with dedicated articles, including Firefox 149 with free built-in VPN, the ‘biggest ever release’ of OpenShot video editor, the new GIMP 3.2.0 release, a bump to terminal tool Ghostty 1.3 and the Opera GX for Linux launch. A busy month, but those weren’t the only app updates of note. Below, I run through other releases made in March. While these didn’t get dedicated articles at the time, they offer new features, fixes or changes […]

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MX Linux Pushes Back Against Age Verification: A Stand for Privacy and Open Source Principles

MX Linux Pushes Back Against Age Verification: A Stand for Privacy and Open Source Principles

The MX Linux project has taken a firm stance in a growing controversy across the Linux ecosystem: mandatory age-verification requirements at the operating system level. In a recent update, the team made it clear, they have no intention of implementing such measures, citing concerns over privacy, practicality, and the core philosophy of open-source software.

As governments begin introducing laws that could require operating systems to collect user age data, MX Linux is joining a group of projects resisting the shift.

What Sparked the Debate?

The discussion around age verification stems from new legislation, particularly in regions like the United States and Brazil, that aims to protect minors online. These laws may require operating systems to:

  • Collect user age or date of birth during setup
  • Provide age-related data to applications
  • Enable content filtering based on age categories

At the same time, underlying Linux components such as systemd have already begun exploring technical changes, including storing birthdate fields in user records to support such requirements.

MX Linux Says “No” to Age Verification

In response, the MX Linux team has clearly rejected the idea of integrating age verification into their distribution. Their reasoning is rooted in several key concerns:

  • User privacy: Collecting age data introduces sensitive personal information into systems that traditionally avoid such tracking
  • Feasibility: Implementing consistent, secure age verification across a decentralized OS ecosystem is highly complex
  • Philosophy: Open-source operating systems are not designed to act as data collectors or gatekeepers

The developers emphasized that they do not want to burden users with intrusive requirements and instead encouraged concerned individuals to direct their efforts toward policymakers rather than Linux projects.

A Broader Resistance in the Linux Community

MX Linux is not alone. The Linux world is divided on how, or whether, to respond to these regulations.

Some projects are exploring compliance, while others are pushing back entirely. In fact, age verification laws have sparked:

  • Strong debate among developers and maintainers
  • Concerns about enforceability on open-source platforms
  • New projects explicitly created to resist such requirements

In some extreme cases, distributions have even restricted access in certain regions to avoid legal complications.

Why This Matters

At its core, this issue goes beyond a single feature, it raises fundamental questions about what an operating system should be.

Linux has long stood for:

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