Sometimes when people say "permissionless" they mean "OK to use until you're noticed by people who can and want to stop you", right?

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Correct, as such radio is permissionless. For your radio to function, you don't need to first ask someone else to turn it on. It basically comes down the question of is there a gate you have to go through or not. So a car is permissionless, eventhough you need a license. But if they install a breathalyzer into it and you have to pass that test before it even starts, it is not permissionless. This is very important, because a lot of what is going on, is turning things permissioned. During COVID they imposed this QR-code permissioned society, putting up 'gates' everywhere in the physical world; and a bunch of these new internet laws do the same where you first need identify yourself before the gates to the web open. Be very aware of people who propose permissioned systems, because they limit your liberty.