> Age checks for porn sites: seems like if parents care about this, there are plenty of technological ways to restrict their children's access? Is there a gap between what's available as a technological intervention and parents' want?
The real problem behind that are various Evangelical groups running scare campaigns against parents and pressure campaigns against ISPs and individual sites. The US was the first with FOSTA/SESTA, the UK followed suit, and here in Germany our media regulators are going nuts as well.
> Measures to clamp down on “anonymous trolls” by requiring that services give the option for users to verify their identity: for minors it seems like parents could restrict access to websites via technical means, for adults... don't use the website/app?
That one is more complex. There are many different and valid points that collide:
- the EU GDPR effectively demands that services can be used anonymously, and so did the old §13 TMG law in Germany.
- service providers (Facebook most infamously) try to skirt these laws because they sell "authenticity" of users as part of their product appeal, and others to combat spam
- the people demand the ability to post on the Internet without having to reveal their identity - say, in customer or employer review sites, or when unionizing or protesting against the government
- Employers and brands do not want anonymous reviews due to the libel potential
- people wish to watch porn or sext anonymously, because of the risk that a link between their porn habits and identity poses - the best example here is the prosecution of gays via Grindr
- governments do not like anonymous commenting either, partially because they're oppressive, and partially because of the potential for hostile acts by enemy nations such as the Russian and Chinese "fake news" campaigns
Striking a balance between these points is very complex, and the fact that many politicians are frankly way too old (or incompetent) to understand what they are regulating doesn't make things better.