Chapter 12 — The government, Paragraph 10.1 (§12.00.10.01)

In essence, until the advent of the digital world, control was achieved factually, in practice (see also §17.00.05). Until only a few decades ago, all information processing carried out by a state’s citizens was performed locally, on the information platform that is their state. Individuals created families, studied, worked and transacted within closed, physical state borders. Although travel or relocation (for shorter or longer periods) was possible, there was in fact no way for anyone to transact across borders without their state’s involvement, and thus the control of its government, either in the form of products physically crossing borders with the relevant paperwork and paying import/export taxes, or individuals crossing them using passports, visas and other travel documents. Challenges to this process have certainly occurred throughout human history (e.g. from religious organisations, company-states etc.), however none have survived the clash with the government. This was as true in the distant past as it was until a few decades ago, when the digital world (in essence, the Internet) emerged.

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