--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The internet has no government, no…" description: "\"The internet has no government, no constitution, no laws, no rights, no police, no courts. Don't talk about fairness or innocence, and don't talk about..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/paul-vixie-32963_being-done_the-internet-has-no-government-no-consti_1262264.jpg" --- # The internet has no government, no constitution, no laws… ![“The internet has no government, no constitution, no laws, no rights, no police, no courts. Don't talk about fairness or innocence, and don't talk about what should be done. Instead, talk about what is being done and what will be done by the amorphous unreachable undefinable blob called the…” quote by Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/paul-vixie-32963_being-done_the-internet-has-no-government-no-consti_1262264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/paul-vixie-32963_being-done_the-internet-has-no-government-no-consti_1262264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/paul-vixie-32963_being-done_the-internet-has-no-government-no-consti_1262264.jpg) > “The internet has no government, no constitution, no laws, no rights, no police, no courts. Don't talk about fairness or innocence, and don't talk about what should be done. Instead, talk about what is being done and what will be done by the amorphous unreachable undefinable blob called the internet user base.” [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The internet operates without formal legal or governmental structures, so discussions should focus on actual actions and policies rather than abstract fairness. **In simple terms:** Internet lacks formal rules; focus on real actions. Key Takeaway Address practical governance issues. Themes governance technology law society Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - policy drafting - online moderation - digital rights advocacy Key Concepts anonymity collective behavior regulation Questions to Reflect On - How can we enforce accountability online? - What mechanisms ensure fair outcomes? A Different Perspective Challenges arise from decentralized control and differing jurisdictions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-done/) [Called Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-internet-438695/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Fairness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairness/) [Fairness Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairness-innocence-4017330/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocence/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Internet Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet-government-2046176/) [Internet User](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet-user-1242554/) [Internet users](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet-users/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Unreachable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreachable/) [User Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/user-base-233511/) [Users](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/users/) ## Related quotes > [Children are not being assaulted by images that appear on a computer screen. Any Internet user knows it is quite difficult to stumble across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/children-are-not-being-assaulted-by-images-that-appear-on-a-computer/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [The idea that, in the age of Google, Facebook and the internet, government can control the 'commanding heights' of the economy is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwasi-kwarteng/the-idea-that-in-the-age-of-google-facebook-and-the-internet/) [Kwasi Kwarteng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwasi-kwarteng/) > [Internet and government is Topic A in every nation, all around the world. There is the question of getting the Internet built. That involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/internet-and-government-is-topic-a-in-every-nation-all-around-the/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [The question is not whether we want to keep this open, neutral Internet - we do, or should - but whether government rulemaking can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/the-question-is-not-whether-we-want-to-keep-this-open-neutral/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [The user in China wants the same thing that any Internet user wants - privacy in conversations, maximum access to information, and the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-user-in-china-wants-the-same-thing-that-any-internet-user-wants/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I am regularly asked what the average Internet user can do to ensure his security. My first answer is usually 'Nothing; you're screwed'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/i-am-regularly-asked-what-the-average-internet-user-can-do-to-ensure/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [I think every Internet user likes personalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-huateng/i-think-every-internet-user-likes-personalization/) [Ma Huateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-huateng/) > [As long as our user base continues to grow, at some point it will have critical mass, and at some point it will tip,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-koum/as-long-as-our-user-base-continues-to-grow-at-some-point-it-will-have/) [Jan Koum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-koum/) > [We don't want to go starting completely separate businesses that do nothing for our user base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/we-don-t-want-to-go-starting-completely-separate-businesses-that-do/) [Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/) > [It's the scale that Yahoo brings - and that user base - that I really want to build products for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-d-aloisio/it-s-the-scale-that-yahoo-brings-and-that-user-base-that-i-really/) [Nick D'Aloisio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-d-aloisio/) > [We invest heavily on Firefox on the desktop. We have a user base we want to keep happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-baker/we-invest-heavily-on-firefox-on-the-desktop-we-have-a-user-base-we/) [Mitchell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-baker/) > [Amassing a user base is a lot harder than one might think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/amassing-a-user-base-is-a-lot-harder-than-one-might-think/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) > [Google+ will never have a user base to rival Facebook's. It just won't. Not even if you include the 'users' who create accounts so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-amos/google-will-never-have-a-user-base-to-rival-facebook-s-it-just-won-t/) [Shawn Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-amos/) > [I had in effect a user base eager to buy porn but no one to sell it to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-cohen/i-had-in-effect-a-user-base-eager-to-buy-porn-but-no-one-to-sell-it/) [Benjamin Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-cohen/) > [In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the government called for an Internet 'unfettered by Federal or State regulation.' The result of that fateful decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/in-the-telecommunications-act-of-1996-the-government-called-for-an/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) ## More by Paul Vixie > [The Internet is no longer the kind of thing where only six guys in the world can build it. Now, you can write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/the-internet-is-no-longer-the-kind-of-thing-where-only-six-guys-in/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [Personally i prefer the MX RR and a stylized name, but i was trying to solve the problem rather than create an industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/personally-i-prefer-the-mx-rr-and-a-stylized-name-but-i-was-trying-to/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [Be neither a conformist or a rebel, for they are really the same thing. Find your own path, and stay on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/be-neither-a-conformist-or-a-rebel-for-they-are-really-the-same-thing/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [The internet is not for sissies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/the-internet-is-not-for-sissies/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [Being obscure in acronyms is great. I think I'll start making up my own... INYM - I'm Not Your Momma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/being-obscure-in-acronyms-is-great-i-think-i-ll-start-making-up-my/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [You sound like a man with a vision. Care to pass that bong over this way?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/you-sound-like-a-man-with-a-vision-care-to-pass-that-bong-over-this/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [The error which underlies the very existence of this debate is that there is some kind of perfect Platonic form of the computer language,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/the-error-which-underlies-the-very-existence-of-this-debate-is-that/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [With usenet gone, we just don't teach our kids entertainment-level hyperbole any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/with-usenet-gone-we-just-don-t-teach-our-kids-entertainment-level/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [Note that if I can get you to su and say something just by asking, you have a very serious security problem on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/note-that-if-i-can-get-you-to-su-and-say-something-just-by-asking-you/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [Note that I hold the single-author record for total CERT advisories, proving that in my copious youth I knew how to sling code but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/note-that-i-hold-the-single-author-record-for-total-cert-advisories/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [Everyone connected to the internet acts globally. it is wildly foolish to think locally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/everyone-connected-to-the-internet-acts-globally-it-is-wildly-foolish/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [The war won't be over until the last spammer's head is stuck onto a spear at the city limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/the-war-won-t-be-over-until-the-last-spammer-s-head-is-stuck-onto-a/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [Fragmentation is like classful addressing -- an interesting early architectural error that shows how much experimentation was going on while IP was being designed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/fragmentation-is-like-classful-addressing-an-interesting-early/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [It's as if our electric grid didn't even have fences around it. This is disgraceful what we do, and what we don't do, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/it-s-as-if-our-electric-grid-didn-t-even-have-fences-around-it-this/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) [Explore all 15 Paul Vixie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) ## More Being done quotes > [Im done being silent, the left cannot win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-done-being-silent-the-left-cannot-win/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once Im done with somebody thats it, there's no turning back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-im-done-with-somebody-thats-it-there-s-no-turning-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good man likes a hard boss. I don't mean a nagging boss or a grouchy boss. I mean a boss who insists on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/a-good-man-likes-a-hard-boss-i-don-t-mean-a-nagging-boss-or-a-grouchy/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Tonight I'm dying. I'm done with this pain Done with people taking everything. I'm done thinking I'm insane. Do e with getting mad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tonight-i-m-dying-i-m-done-with-this-pain-done-with-people-taking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im done with tears. I'm wiping my eyes. If he doesnt care then why the hell should I?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-done-with-tears-i-m-wiping-my-eyes-if-he-doesnt-care-then-why-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't sweat it nor regret it, just move on and forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-sweat-it-nor-regret-it-just-move-on-and-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The difference between a stranger sending you a message that you might be interested in at a very low volume level, no repetition, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-difference-between-a-stranger-sending-you-a-message-that-you/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [When you no longer wish to defend, explain or fight then its time to give up...no matter how much you don't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-no-longer-wish-to-defend-explain-or-fight-then-its-time-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm done wit being nice if u don't like my attiude then stay the fuck away from me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-done-wit-being-nice-if-u-don-t-like-my-attiude-then-stay-the-fuck/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like television. I still believe that television is the most powerful form of communication on Earth - I just hate what is being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/i-like-television-i-still-believe-that-television-is-the-most/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [To all those I've loved I can't take this any more, By the time you read this, I'll be waiting at Hell's door. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-those-i-ve-loved-i-can-t-take-this-any-more-by-the-time-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why not take all of me? Can't you see I'm no good without you? Take my arms I want to lose them Take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/why-not-take-all-of-me-can-t-you-see-i-m-no-good-without-you-take-my/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) > [I never really knew what they said when they told me to Forgive and Forget. They tell me it's easy. Maybe for them. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-cavalinni/i-never-really-knew-what-they-said-when-they-told-me-to-forgive-and/) [Brie Cavalinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-cavalinni/) > [Try to find if something out there is similar. If it's already being done, now you need to find out if you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-johnson/try-to-find-if-something-out-there-is-similar-if-it-s-already-being/) [Cameron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-johnson/) [Browse all 304 Being done quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-done/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The internet has no government, no constitution, no laws, no rights, no police, no courts. Don't talk about fairness or innocence, and don't talk about what should be done. 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