Whenever Congress wants political cover to pass a law, they focus on how it affects kids ("think of the children!") - child pornography is often a convenient ex

Whenever Congress wants political cover to pass a law, they focus on how it affects kids ("think of the children!") - child pornography is often a convenient excuse, as it was during SOPA/PIPA. In technology, the excuse is usually either "security" or "better user experience". Like preventing child pornography, these are both worthwhile goals, but they are often used to cover up goals far less noble, as you note.