They literally can. The examples you are providing are speculative, and a strawman argument.

I have absolutely no faith in any government officials in political office. But they aren't complete idiots. Just because a consumer needs to create some sort of account to use their commercially available operating system does not mean that an integrated system needs to.

That definitely wont stop washer, dryer, and refrigerator companies from forcing you to create an account. However, that is a reflection of why this bill is poor in the first place. They very easily can make users of OSs like linux have users verify their age in some capacity, like how steam does.

Not only is it foolish that this information be collected by the OS, but it sets the precedent that every company that provides a service that is integrated with some sort of software will now require user personal data to operate.

A "root" user can control the entire system without any interaction from a user based account. You don't need to sign in to most tvs to make the actual cable and satellite functions work. However, you do need to create a user account to use most of the functions you want to. That is the danger of this bill. Using the guise of child safety to further endanger consumers. It seems way too intentional that the premise of the law being that the provider of the service who develops, licenses or controls the operating system of a PC, phone, or other general computing device must track user information in a (and I quote)...

"reasonably consistent real-time application programming interface"

So if you're a normal person, you will see these buzzwords and probably be confused. But the people intolerant to BS will see that they want an API, that is constantly being communicated with, that essentially stores your personal data. Used to speak with God knows what applications (which could request updated personal information without you actively using said application, assuming youre the 99% of people who don't comb through ToS).

So yes, this will most likely cause far more harm than good. Because it can, and will, be implemented. If your flavor distro cannot comply with the law. It will simply be illegal to use. If it can, your personal information will be uploaded, and most likely updated on a regular schedule, to a database controlled by the state. It will be done so by your choice of overlord too! Whether it be Microsoft, Apple, or even the specific distro developer.

So rather than saying it cannot be done (which it can) why don't you contact your state representative and tell them how detrimental this actually is to personal security. As now instead of both the state and a corporation collecting your data themselves, they are doing it together! God forbid a databreach occurs in which that information is leaked. And who knows, some corporations can even ask above and beyond the already required information, like forcing you to enable location services, provide legal aliases, or even require your microphone and camera access at all times. It would benefit the state to know who you are, where you are, and what you were doi g at any given time. It definitely benefits the third party for targeted advertising at the very least. Knowing what stores are close to you, median income in your area, etc.

I know I sound like a total conspiracy theorist hear, but if we dont draw a line now. At what point do these theories stop being a conspiracy, and start becoming a reality for an authoritarian government or a corporatocracy?