i was talking today with friends about the online #surveillance "age verification" laws and i realised one important thing: your stance about them depends mainly on how cynical you are about people online. if you believe that people online are mainly out to get you and your kids then you are most likely in favour. if you think that the kids can meet other normal kids and make meaningful connections with strangers online then you are probably opposed to anything that would make it difficult. i thought about myself as a cynical pessimistic person but this discussion gave me a bit more perspective...