The tools are available to police the internet

From time to time there is an almighty outcry about policing the internet. Often the uproar results from a particularly egregious incident following harm or self-harm to a minor. Demands are made on government to respond. Explaining that control over the internet’s infrastructure is inherently complex and not amenable to easy technological, legal or political solutions is unwelcome.

Some sections of the media, although they know better, pretend there are easy solutions. In ...