letter to Ash Kalra

[http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert (Robert)]

June 18, 2026

The Honorable Ash Kalra Ca State Assembly,
District 25 Capitol
Office: box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0025
Email:
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/~assemblymember.kalra

Re: Oppose AB 1856 - Protect Privacy and Free Speech

Dear Assemblymember Kalra,

I urge you to oppose AB 1856 or demand critical amendments before it
advances. While the open-source exemption is a step forward, the bill
dangerously expands mandatory age-gating to web browsers and websites,
creating severe risks for all Cans.

1. Ambiguity Threatens Open Source
Despite recent amendments, it remains unclear how the law applies when
open-source operating systems are used in commercial products (e.g.,
Android devices or SteamOS). This legal uncertainty chills innovation and
fails to fully protect the open-source ecosystem from liability. The scope
of "covered systems" must be explicitly narrowed to prevent unintended
compliance burdens on essential privacy tools.

2. Building a Surveillance Infrastructure
AB 1856 pressures services to collect personally identifying information
(PII)--including government IDs and biometric data--to avoid liability.
This mandates the creation of a pervasive data collection framework that
can easily be scaled into a federal tracking infrastructure. Once
established, this system normalizes identity verification for internet
access, eroding anonymity and enabling mass surveillance.

3. Blocking Critical Youth Access
Mandatory age verification creates insurmountable barriers for young
people seeking sensitive, life-saving information. Requiring ID or facial
scans deters minors from accessing resources on abortion, LGBTQ+ support,
and mental health, particularly for those in unsupportive or abusive
households. Privacy is a prerequisite for free speech; this bill
sacrifices the safety of vulnerable youth for ineffective age-gating.

Please vote against AB 1856 unless it is amended to remove the expansion
to browsers and websites and fully clarify open-source protections.

Sincerely,