For over ten years, scholars have debated over law in cyberspace. Some, the "exceptiona!ists, " argue that cyberspace should develop its own system of laws and regulations. Others, the" unexceptionalists, " argue that real-space territorial law must govern the internet. This paper advocates a new kind of exceptionalism, grounded in an examination of legitimate authority in cyberspace. I use social contract theory to locate two sources of legitimate cyberspace authority: the authority of a real-space sovereign over its citizens and the authority of a cyberspace community formed by a distinct social contract. I argue that, because cyberspace dissolves territorial boundaries, internet users are insecure in their knowledge of political relationships and that cyberspace communities can resolve this incon venience.