Re: COPPA load of this
"Now if they can't get this right and they've had 20 years, how exactly does HMG expect this to work..."
I don't think they do expect it to work. In fact they probably know it won't be particularly effective.
Some smart people do advise the government, even though the decisions the government makes suggests otherwise.
However, from a citizen control/monitoring/profiling point of view it is a useful exercise. And for swinging a few votes under the guise of protecting children it also serves a purpose.
All this really amounts to is a government appearing to take action to protect children. Which the general public will see as a positive action rather than the ineffective sound bite made to placate that it is.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
