In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.”
None of this is new to the rise of dictators.
In 1973, when General Augusto Pinochet overthrew Chile’s president, Salvador Allende, independent newspapers quickly disappeared. Journalists who had supported the old government weren’t just fired—they were arrested, exiled, or even killed. For nearly two decades, the Chilean public was fed a version of reality that made Pinochet’s rule seem inevitable. State-run television and radio stations spread only government-approved messages, and independent reporters had to work secretly to reveal the truth.
Adolf Hitler used an even more sophisticated approach. After becoming Germany’s leader in 1933, he turned newspapers, radio, and film into powerful propaganda weapons. Joseph Goebbels, his minister of propaganda, ensured that all media spread the same message: Hitler was Germany’s savior, the country’s enemies were dangerous, and war was necessary. Cheap radios were distributed to families so they could hear Hitler’s speeches at home, reinforcing his control over their thoughts. Jewish journalists were fired, independent newspapers were shut down, and those who resisted were imprisoned or killed. When every source of information tells the same story, people start to believe it—especially when disagreeing could cost them their lives.
Control over information is just as important to modern dictators. In Russia, Vladimir Putin has spent years silencing independent journalists and replacing them with government-friendly media. At the beginning of his presidency, networks like NTV still criticized the government. But one by one, they were taken over by pro-Kremlin companies or forced to shut down. Journalists who exposed government corruption, like Anna Politkovskaya, were murdered. Today, nearly all major media outlets in Russia follow the government’s version of events, and internet censorship has increased to prevent citizens from accessing outside information.
A similar strategy was used in Venezuela under Hugo Chávez. State-run television was filled with hours of Chávez’s speeches, while networks that criticized him, like RCTV, were shut down. His successor, Nicolás Maduro, took this even further, blocking independent news websites and limiting social media access to prevent protests from spreading. Many Venezuelans now rely on underground networks or foreign broadcasts to hear unbiased news.
Other leaders have taken a quieter but equally effective approach. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán didn’t shut down newspapers outright—he made sure his wealthy allies bought them. Slowly, independent voices disappeared, and government-friendly media became the only reliable news source. One of Hungary’s last major independent newspapers, Népszabadság, was closed under the excuse of financial trouble, but the real reason was its critical reporting on Orbán’s government.
Benito Mussolini, Italy’s fascist dictator, understood media control better than most. Before taking power in 1922, he was a journalist, so he knew how to manipulate public opinion. His government-controlled radio broadcasts, posters, and films, all of which promoted his image as a fearless leader. Schoolbooks were rewritten to teach children that Mussolini had saved Italy. Any journalist who dared to challenge his rule was arrested or silenced.
China’s leaders have taken this strategy into the digital age. Under Xi Jinping, the Chinese government blocks websites like Google, YouTube, and Twitter,