Ok. No more linux in california. Forget silicon valley. Forget all the supercomputers at research establishments. Forget all the smart TVs. Forget all the cars with in-dash computers. Let's see how long california can keep its lights on without embedded linux.
In all seriousness, rather than comply, linux distros should enforce this law. Any linux install that detects itself being in california should automatically shutdown with a loud error message. I give it a week before a madmax situation develops.
How expensive do you expect such an API to cost to make? It's pretty simple.
Compliance is always easier than resistance. Want to keep software free? Freedom has costs.
Free software doesn't mean that it can or should break the law. That is entirely tangential.
Considering the law requires every app to do it, pretty expensive.
It would have to be done at the license level and with litigation. Anything relying on code to be added, would be removed. And probably, trying to do the license thing would force some people to fork the software.