UK is not and has never been a free society, UK elites have an authoritarian streak.

Historically they were fairly smart at doing it subtly but the mask slipped during Covid and they never really put it back on.

Also - outside the HN bubble this stuff isn’t even unpopular. Normies supported covid lockdowns and they don’t want their kids watching porn either.

The people yearn to be ruled and nannied

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budududuroiu 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I've heard people on HN make the argument that a blanket ban is better because their kids won't feel it's unfair that only their family implements strict internet blocks

	▲	itsnotchow54 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		[dead]

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pibaker 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Also - outside the HN bubble this stuff isn’t even unpopular.

This stuff wasn't unpopular on HN until it actually happened. Almost every submission on HN about social media had people calling for similar regulations or even outright bans. It was not until they actually started asking for IDs when HNers realized what they really wanted to achieve with these laws.

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wqaatwt 2 hours ago | parent [-]

There is a huge difference between supporting the regulation of algorithmic feeds and other dark patterns and a direct attack on personal privacy.

	▲	joe_mamba 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		>There is a huge difference between supporting the regulation of algorithmic feeds and other dark patterns and a direct attack on personal privacy. Normies don't see the difference and politicians don't want there to be a difference. Normies want security and politicians will offer it wrapped in surveilance.