When did John Stuart Mill believe government could limit an individual’s freedom?

John Stuart Mill argued that the only legitimate basis for a government or society to restrict an individual's freedom is to prevent harm to others. This concept, famously known as the harm principle, asserts that an individual's own physical or moral well-being is not a sufficient justification for state interference.12

In his work On Liberty, Mill maintained that power can only be rightfully exercised over a member of a civilized community against their will for the purpose of self-protection. Consequently, he opposed paternalistic laws that sought to prevent self-harm or enforce moral behavior, as he believed such measures failed to respect the autonomy of adult citizens. While Mill allowed for exceptions regarding children or those with impaired faculties—who are considered incapable of authentic consent—he held that for competent adults, the state must tolerate self-regarding acts, even if they are perceived as harmful to the individual themselves.21