Nightfox wrote to Mauro <=-

The Brazilian government wants to block ISO downloads in certain
regions? Why?

So their citizens don't load on an OS that is unapproved (i.e. unsubverted) by the gov't.


... "DOS=HIGH" Hmm, I knew it was on something...
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Re: Re: CA bill No. 1043 age
By: Dr. What to Nightfox on Thu Mar 12 2026 07:56 am

So their citizens don't load on an OS that is unapproved (i.e. unsubverted) by the gov't.

meh.. Also, there's more than just OSes in ISOs - Sometimes there are tools available as ISOs because you may need to boot from separate media to run them, such as backup media (i.e. CloneZilla) or partition editing tools (such as GParted).

Nightfox

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In Brazil, because its impossible use verification age in BSD and Linux,
the maintainers can block downloads from Brazil.

Mauro - Sysop
BBS Telesc.net.br


Em 12/03/2026 08:56, Dr. What (VERT/THEGATEB) escreveu:

Nightfox wrote to Mauro <=-

The Brazilian government wants to block ISO downloads in certain regions?  Why?

So their citizens don't load on an OS that is unapproved (i.e.
unsubverted) by
the gov't.

... "DOS=HIGH" Hmm, I knew it was on something...
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Re: Re: CA bill No. 1043 age
By: Mauro to Dr. What on Thu Mar 12 2026 11:58 am

In Brazil, because its impossible use verification age in BSD and Linux, the maintainers can block downloads from Brazil.

Can that really stop people from downloading the ISOs though? I imagine someone might be able to get around those blocks by using a VPN, for instance. Someone might also be able to buy a PC or laptop from another country with Linux or BSD on it and import it (though I know taxes and import fees for such things in Brazil can be quite expensive).

Blocking ISO downloads is something I'd expect from a country like China, but I wouldn't have expected to hear Brazil doing this..

Nightfox

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Nightfox wrote to Dr. What <=-

So their citizens don't load on an OS that is unapproved (i.e. unsubverted) by the gov't.

meh.. Also, there's more than just OSes in ISOs -

But remember that we are dealing with gov't officials who are not the bright bulbs on the Christmas tree.


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Nightfox wrote to Mauro <=-

Can that really stop people from downloading the ISOs though? I
imagine someone might be able to get around those blocks by using a
VPN, for instance.

Countries like this block VPN usage too.

Blocking ISO downloads is something I'd expect from a country like
China, but I wouldn't have expected to hear Brazil doing this..

You've obviously never seen a picture of their Fearless Leader. I swear that he looks like the villian right out of an old movie.


... I'm not a complete idiot - several parts are missing.
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Mauro wrote to Dr. What <=-

In Brazil, because its impossible use verification age in BSD and
Linux, the maintainers can block downloads from Brazil.

Since the maintainers aren't in Brazil, they can tell the Brazillian gov't to go F themselves.

Better yet, have the maintainers move to Wyoming, U.S.A. where they now have a law on the books that would allow the maintainers to counter sue in Wyoming and have Wyoming seize Brazillian assets in the U.S. to pay the judgement.


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Nightfox wrote to Mauro <=-

Can that really stop people from downloading the ISOs though? I
imagine someone might be able to get around those blocks by using a
VPN, for instance. Someone might also be able to buy a PC or laptop
from another country with Linux or BSD on it and import it (though I
know taxes and import fees for such things in Brazil can be quite expensive).

Blocking ISO downloads is something I'd expect from a country like
China, but I wouldn't have expected to hear Brazil doing this..

Back in the old days, we used to buy Linux CDs and have them mailed to
us. :)



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Re: Re: CA bill No. 1043 age
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Nightfox on Sat Mar 14 2026 08:32 am

Back in the old days, we used to buy Linux CDs and have them mailed to us. :)

I did that too. :) I bought a few CD-Rs with Linux distros (and I think one with FreeBSD) from Walnut Creek. Buying one from them and waiting for it to arrive in the mail was easier (and often faster) than waiting for the ISO to download over dialup. :)

Nightfox

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Re: Re: CA bill No. 1043 age
By: Dr. What to Nightfox on Fri Mar 13 2026 07:16 am

Nightfox wrote to Mauro <=-

Can that really stop people from downloading the ISOs though? I imagine someone might be able to get around those blocks by using a VPN, for instance.

Countries like this block VPN usage too.

In practice what happens is you get the Linux ISO from some website they forgot to blacklist. And when they blacklist it eventually you source the Linux ISO from somewhere else.

I mean, a friend of mine used to pirate Animes from a site they just closed, and it took them 5 minutes to open a new one that was exacly as the old one, with a very similar domain at that.

In any case, it makes Brazil look even worse than it already did and I am unlikely to buy any ADR from a Brazilioan company anytime soon heh.


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Arelor wrote to Dr. What <=-

In practice what happens is you get the Linux ISO from some website
they forgot to blacklist. And when they blacklist it eventually you
source the Linux ISO from somewhere else.

You're missing The Great Firewall of China that successfully blocks everything.

You are also missing how they set things up in Iran with a two-tiered Internet.
It's not blacklist. It's a whitelist - which is much more effective in blocking things that the regime doesn't want - especially if they don't care about public opinion.

In any case, it makes Brazil look even worse than it already did and I
am unlikely to buy any ADR from a Brazilioan company anytime soon heh.

Oh, Brazil looks bad. But they don't care.


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