California’s AB-1043 will impact RetroArch

General
#1

This is a pretty serious topic. California passed a law that will go into effect in 2027 which will require standalone applications distributed through ‘application stores’ to query an age bracket API on download and startup for the user’s age bracket and take action accordingly to restrict age-inappropriate content. The APIs do not yet exist for any OS. There are no exceptions, all standalone applications delivered in California have to comply with the law.

Since RetroArch is essentially a media player, this law can have a very serious impact on users and developers. I am wondering if there has been response to this by the developers.

Most games since the mid-90s have ratings. However, there is a huge swathe of content that don’t have any rating, and RA can execute any arbitrary code due the nature of emulators. For this reason, anything that is loaded that doesn’t have an explicit rating (even just a simple image) would need to be treated as 18+ in my opinion. Alternatively, the application can be treated as adult only.

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#2

We’ll deal with it as it comes, but yeah, worst case would probably be to just make it 18+ or whatever.

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#3

California Lawmakers are just cocking around, stomping their ground, trying to force their will uppon the rest of the world.

Best possible outcome would be companies and foundations would refuse to cooperate/comply. Maybe then the population and bussinesses in California can use a modified version of Mel Gibson’s “clone” of TempleOS, which includes the necessary age verification checks etc.

I strongly believe some agreements must be accepted on the global level to regulate cocking around and forcing their will by some level 2 local lawmakers.

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#4

All the companies have to do is block California. Unfortunately, they all want a piece of that market (or else are located in California themselves).

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#5

Brazil’s Law No. 15.211/2025 is that law on steroids.