# Symmetry Principle The Symmetry Principle asks whether a defensive cognitive capability would remain acceptable if directed inward against the defender’s own citizens without their knowledge or consent. ## Rule A capability that fails this test requires prohibition or a much stronger lawful, consent-based, oversight-bound perimeter. The principle prevents cognitive sovereignty from becoming a justification for the same covert degradation, manipulation, or coercion it is meant to resist. ## Relationships [[Consent-and-Reversibility Perimeter]] · [[Authorization Gap]] · [[Cognitive Sovereignty Infrastructure]] · [[Agency-Preserving Systems]]. ## Source [[articles/Cognitive-Cyber Warfare Measures and Countermeasures#11. Civil Liberties, Ethics, and Domestic Safeguards|Cognitive-Cyber Warfare — civil liberties]].