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Such a law doesn't necessarily have to require that every browser include the content filtering code. Only that websites must correctly report the content they

Such a law doesn't necessarily have to require that every browser include the content filtering code. Only that websites must correctly report the content they serve. Of course then the obvious workaround for someone wanting to access restricted content is just to install a browser that does not enforce the restrictions. But that's a problem even if browsers were "forced" to implement this anyway. There would always be a browser out there that didn't adhere to this rule anyway.

JumpCrisscross 2y ago
> Of course then the obvious workaround for someone wanting to access restricted content is just to install a browser that does not enforce the restrictions You really see a world where such a law is passed and such browsers aren’t outlawed?
- michaelmior 2y ago
  Yes and no. There are (at least) two ways to effectively outlaw such browsers. One is penalties for the browser distributor. However, this really only applies to entities that are subject to US law. Of course the law could go one step further and try to go after ISPs for allowing access to download them, but that's already proved difficult in other arenas. The other way to limit access to such browsers is penalties for users of those browsers. But that feels even less likely. Even if such a law were on the books, how would it be enforced? Either someone would have to report someone using an "illegal" browser or perhaps some method of fingerprinting that is somehow tied back to the actual user. Both of these seem far-fetched to me. So perhaps such browsers would be outlawed, but I'm not sure it would practically do much.
Braxton1980 2y ago
> Of course then the obvious workaround for someone wanting to access restricted content is just to install a browser that does not enforce the restrictions. But that's a problem even if browsers were "forced" to implement this anyway. There would always be a browser out there that didn't adhere to this rule anyway So why are you for it if the solution isn't valid?
- michaelmior 2y ago
  I didn't say anywhere that I am for it.

JumpCrisscross 2y ago

> Of course then the obvious workaround for someone wanting to access restricted content is just to install a browser that does not enforce the restrictions You really see a world where such a law is passed and such browsers aren’t outlawed?

michaelmior 2y ago
Yes and no. There are (at least) two ways to effectively outlaw such browsers. One is penalties for the browser distributor. However, this really only applies to entities that are subject to US law. Of course the law could go one step further and try to go after ISPs for allowing access to download them, but that's already proved difficult in other arenas. The other way to limit access to such browsers is penalties for users of those browsers. But that feels even less likely. Even if such a law were on the books, how would it be enforced? Either someone would have to report someone using an "illegal" browser or perhaps some method of fingerprinting that is somehow tied back to the actual user. Both of these seem far-fetched to me. So perhaps such browsers would be outlawed, but I'm not sure it would practically do much.

Braxton1980 2y ago

> Of course then the obvious workaround for someone wanting to access restricted content is just to install a browser that does not enforce the restrictions. But that's a problem even if browsers were "forced" to implement this anyway. There would always be a browser out there that didn't adhere to this rule anyway So why are you for it if the solution isn't valid?

michaelmior 2y ago
I didn't say anywhere that I am for it.