A Sneaky Form of Fascism: The Unholy Alliance Between the State and Big Tech

Authoritarians in the government and Big Tech are colluding to control the narrative.

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

In the United States, the intersection of media and politics has become increasingly complex, and concerns about the state-media complex's abuse of power and manipulation of information have flown largely under the radar. The rise of the digital media age has brought new challenges, and some state-media complexes in America have openly adopted fascist tactics to influence the public. This article explores why this phenomenon is occurring in the American context and the implications for society.

The digital media age has disrupted the traditional media landscape in the United States. Indeed, establishment media is starting to be supplanted by alternative media via the internet. Social media and online platforms have democratized journalism, allowing for a proliferation of diverse voices and opinions.

However, this has also created an environment where misinformation, propaganda, and polarization can thrive, making it challenging to discern fact from fiction. It is this reality that authoritarians, especially on the left, have used to censor certain types of content under the guise of making sure people are not misled by supposed bad actors with a pernicious agenda.

In this context, some state-media complexes in America have turned to fascist tactics to shape public opinion and maintain their grip on power. Propaganda, censorship, and suppression of dissent have become tools that some state-media complexes use to manipulate the narrative, control information flow, and silence dissenting voices.

One of the key reasons why the state-media complex in America has adopted fascism is the growing threat posed by the digital media age. The decentralized nature of information dissemination on social media has challenged the traditional gatekeeping role of media outlets and weakened the state's control over the narrative. In response, some state-media complexes have resorted to propaganda, spreading false information, and amplifying their own narratives to shape public opinion in their favor.

The Twitter Files have exposed the extent to which our federal government has colluded with private actors to identify and suppress content that contradicted state-approved narratives on issues like COVID-19 and other matters. While the government has not overtly forced companies like Twitter and other social media platforms to do its bidding, it has allied with the authoritarian leadership of these companies to get around that pesky First Amendment.

It has also been revealed that the State Department has been funding groups like the Global Disinformation Index and others to suppress certain types of content on various platforms. The partnership between the government and private entities dedicated to ensuring the supremacy of left-leaning, state-supporting voices on the internet can only be described as fascism-lite. Instead of forcing companies to violate our rights, they simply work with those who are already amenable to the idea that certain voices should not be allowed to be pervasive online.

The implications of the state-media complex's adoption of fascism in America are far-reaching. One of the most concerning is the erosion of liberties and the suppression of freedom of expression. When the state-media complex controls the narrative and silences dissent, it undermines the fundamental right to express opinions and ideas freely, which is crucial for a free society. This can, and already has, lead to the manipulation of public opinion, the silencing of dissenting voices, and the consolidation of power by those in authority.

It is essential to recognize that the adoption of fascism by the state-media complex in America is not limited to one particular political ideology or party. Currently, the most egregious players in this form of Diet Fascism have been on the hard left, which has tried to use their power to help the government silence dissenting voices.

However, this does not mean the right is not capable of the same type of behavior. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently facing a lawsuit from Disney because it revoked its special tax status as punishment for the company publicly criticizing the Parental Rights in Education Act. The revoking of the status is not necessarily the issue — the government should not be giving certain companies special treatment in the first place. Rather, it is the fact that DeSantis and Florida Republicans made this move in retaliation to being criticized.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that people are concerned about the unholy alliance between the state and Big Tech. Those on the left are largely okay with it because it targets mainly people they don’t like. Folks on the right are currently distracted by a man on a beer can and the next viral outrage.