Since many of the issues in this chapter concern the differing interests of individuals, organizations and societies, it is inevitable that legislation and regulation will play an important role. Since legislation is enacted by governments, one consequence will be that individuals' rights will often be balanced against national and commercial interests.
It is easy to imagine that economic or security concerns will dominate (if not in the UK, then they will in some countries) and these concerns may not promote liberty, charity and (for example) easy ways of helping the poor. For example, it could be made illegal to use electronic cash in certain ways and, if so, the computer programs available could make it literally impossible to do so. Because cyberspace is or is potentially worldwide, what we might find acceptable in Britain or in Europe might be unacceptable in other societies, or vice versa, and that raises the need for international agreements which, as we know from our experience with issues such as global warming or biodiversity, are not easy to achieve.