Legal Definitions - protective principle

The protective principle is a legal concept that allows a country to take action against someone who is not within its borders but is still a threat to its security or government functions.

For example, if a person living in another country is planning a terrorist attack on the United States, the U.S. government can take action against that person, even if they are not physically present in the U.S. This is because the person's actions could harm the U.S. and its citizens.

Another example is if a foreign company is engaging in activities that could harm the economy or national security of a country, that country can take action against the company, even if it is not located within its borders.

These examples illustrate how the protective principle allows a country to protect itself from threats that may come from outside its borders.