Regulator: "This thing you have invented, 'electricity', what can you do with it?"

Innovator: "Oh, all sort of things."

R: "What things?"

I: "Um... we are experimenting with loads of applications. Lightbulbs for example. But it's a generic tech, it can be used in thousands of ways to make society more efficient."

R: "Yes, whatever.... But this 'lightbulb' thing. Can you explain that?"

I: "We think it migh be able to generate light. But it's just an idea at this point. Look, we are working on thousands of applications for electricity, lightbulbs is just an example. The point is the tech".

R: "Aha. But those lightbulbs you where talking about, can they be used by criminals?"

I: "Yes, but...."

R: "OK, than we need a kill switch so that the state can turn off 'electricity'. And you need to report all lightbulbs to the Lightbulb Authority we just put in place, pay a hefty fee and possibly be granted a Lightbulb license. We can't have anyone using lightbulbs."

I: "Sure, lightbulbs can be used by criminals, but so can e-mail and web sites, but you never did an E-mail Authority or a Web Site Authority to control who could send email and set up a web site? 

R: "Exactly".

I: "Sure, lightbulbs can be used by criminals, but so can e-mail and web sites, but you never did an E-mail Authority or a Web Site Authority to control who could send email and set up a web site? 

R: "Exactly". 

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