Quite some time ago I formulated what I call "the First Law of the Internet". I believe it provides a better formulation than a simply saying "do no harm".

The reason that I believe that it is better is that the "do no harm" approach is that there is almost aways some grounds for someone somewhere to claim that he/she is harmed.

My formulation makes it clear that anyone who claims harm must be asserting a harm to the public and places the burden of proving his/her case onto the person asserting the harm.

Here it is:

The First Law of the Internet

Every person shall be free to use the Internet in any way that is privately beneficial without being publicly detrimental.

• The burden of demonstrating public detriment shall be on those who wish to prevent the private use.

  • Such a demonstration shall require clear and convincing evidence of public detriment.

• The public detriment must be of such degree and extent as to justify the suppression of the private activity.