#132 Mike Benz - Inside the Censorship Industrial Complex

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Shawn Ryan Show

Key Takeaways

• Populism in the new Communism; the same strategies that were used to fight and combat the spread of Communism during the Cold War are now used to fight populism
• Global censorship is not a “left vs right” issue; it is the Blob vs. populism
  • The “Blob” as a term used to describe the entrenched foreign policy establishment in Washington, DC
• Following World War II, the Blob was created to influence events in foreign countries so that those events would suit the interests of the United States
  • After 1948, the United States needed a new mechanism to maintain its empire – not by military means, but by political vassalage
  • The US would intervene in countries that did not pose any national security threat but had resources or services that supported the interests of the US and its people
• Starting in 2016, the foreign-policy established institutions felt threatened that the entire rules-based international order might collapse due to nations pursuing their own nationalism; to combat this trend, the Blob created its online censorship apparatus around the year 2014
  • The Blob is used to prevent or handicap the rise of populist political candidates in a given region
  • During the Cold War, the CIA and State Department viewed left-wing Communism as the ultimate threat; today, they view right-wing populism as the threat
• The US encourages nations to “strengthen its political process” by establishing robust counter-disinformation mechanisms so that it can be aligned with “democracy best practices”
• Government funding is being used to subsidize a censorship mercenary army; the complex would cease to exist if its funding was cut off
  • “The American people are subsidizing their silence.” – Mike Benz
• If the censorship-industrial complex reaches full maturity, then it will become as powerful as the military-industrial complex itself

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org

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Mike Benz is a former official with the U.S. Department of State, known for his work in international communications and digital freedom. He has played a significant role in advocating for internet freedom and the protection of online expression.
Benz is the founder of the Foundation for Freedom Online, an organization dedicated to promoting free speech and digital rights around the world. His work focuses on countering authoritarian censorship and supporting the rights of individuals to access and share information freely.
His background includes expertise in foreign affairs and digital policy, often emphasizing the importance of a free and open internet as a fundamental human right. Through his advocacy, Benz has sought to engage policymakers and the public on issues related to digital governance, censorship, and the implications of technology for democracy.

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