Slovakia and Beyond : Govt Takes Over MSM/Net

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/04/slovakian-government-is-quashing-public-media-independence-opposition-warns

The new legislation, pushed for by PM Robert Fico's ruling
party, SMER, will disband the public broadcaster RTVS and
replace it with an entirely new public TV and radio station.

Slovakia's opposition parties have accused the government
of attempting to restrict media freedom after a new law
came into force which would give parliament more control
over public broadcasting.

The new legislation, pushed for by PM Robert Fico's ruling
party, SMER, will create a new Slovak Television and
Radio station, which will replace RTVS and dismiss the
broadcaster’s current director, Lubosz Machaj.

The Slovakian government will then elect a new director
selected by a council whose nine members will be nominated
by the Culture Ministry and parliament. Machaj still
has a parliamentary mandate until 2027.

. . .

   More and more the pattern for "western democracies".

   Even in the USA, its Supreme Court has decided to
   allow The State to shape/censor "The News" online
   and likely beyond. "Wrong Ideas/Truths" can be
   simply, automatically, disappeared at the pleasure
   of The Rulers. Those who resist may be subjected
   to "pressure".

   Slovakia has had Bad Politics for a few years now.
   There was even an attempt on the PM a few weeks ago.
   Alas this strongly encourages those IN power to
   seize control of "reality" in order to suppress
   everyone else.

   Censored/edited/tilted/Bowlderized "news" is
   NOT "reality". Sensible, logical, rule by
   The People DEMANDS access to straight-up info,
   but they are not going to GET that anymore.
   Therefore rule By The People becomes a cynical,
   perhaps dangerous, ILLUSION.

   Such illusions generally precede overt
   authoritarian rule. Once all is obscure,
   surreal, ANY State excuses prevail.

   This is not limited to "left" or "right"
   or "theocratic" - we are seeing a BROAD
   assault on Truths/Ideas in these times.
   The electronic nature of most "news" now
   makes this all the easier to implement.

   Someone once said you cannot censor the
   internet. That was a LONG time ago. The
   fact is that it is now VERY easy to censor
   the internet - "AI" has advanced to the
   point where it can be an everywhere/anytime
   automatic "delete button" that is sensitive
   to not only words but context and nuance.
   The Big Net Providers always cater to the
   whims of The Powers That Be without any
   consideration of any evils done.