Reply #1: The Internet is the undoing of 1984 [View All]

The book 1984 depicted state-controlled television as the ultimate and final tool of totalitarianism. Independent news and television has worn away at this structure. But this pales in comparison to the Internet. Freedom of information coupled with broadcast to entities across the globe, anonymity, transmission without physical location being known, and high-level encryption possible as a result of the bitwise nature of data encoding all converge to a system beyond the reaches of the most savvy dictator. Even if they try to eradicate the physical infrastructure, wireless and satellite transmission will be put in place by individuals with skills. This blogger is the most dangerous man alive, just like all other bloggers. The state will lose its grip, and others will take up the fight if these people are sent away. It may take a long time, but the technology is here to stay.