--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Advances in the technology of…" description: "\"Advances in the technology of communications have proved an unambiguous threat to totalitarian regimes: Fax machines enable dissidents to bypass state-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/rupert-murdoch-2885_communication_advances-in-the-technology-of-communicat_1794345.jpg" --- # Advances in the technology of communications have proved… ![“Advances in the technology of communications have proved an unambiguous threat to totalitarian regimes: Fax machines enable dissidents to bypass state-controlled print media; direct-dial telephone makes it difficult for a state to control interpersonal voice communication; and satellite…” quote by Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/rupert-murdoch-2885_communication_advances-in-the-technology-of-communicat_1794345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/rupert-murdoch-2885_communication_advances-in-the-technology-of-communicat_1794345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/rupert-murdoch-2885_communication_advances-in-the-technology-of-communicat_1794345.jpg) > “Advances in the technology of communications have proved an unambiguous threat to totalitarian regimes: Fax machines enable dissidents to bypass state-controlled print media; direct-dial telephone makes it difficult for a state to control interpersonal voice communication; and satellite broadcasting makes it possible for information-hungry residents of many closed societies to bypass state-controlled television channels.” [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technological advances in communication undermine authoritarian control by providing alternative channels for information flow. **In simple terms:** New media weaken dictatorships. Key Takeaway Leverage independent media to promote freedom. Themes media freedom technology political change Mood defiant optimistic Type political technological When to use this quote - activist networks - journalist reporting - satellite TV - online platforms - mobile phones Key Concepts information diffusion censorship resistance digital empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens protect these channels from sabotage? - What role should international bodies play? A Different Perspective Authoritarian regimes may still block or jam signals, limiting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Telecommunications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telecommunications/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Totalitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarian/) [Totalitarian regimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarian-regimes/) ## Related quotes > [Advances in the technology of telecommunications have proved an unambiguous threat to totalitarian regimes everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/advances-in-the-technology-of-telecommunications-have-proved-an/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Satellite broadcasting makes it possible for information-hungry residents of many closed societies to bypass state-controlled television channels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/satellite-broadcasting-makes-it-possible-for-information-hungry/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Of course you have a duty to show the disfigurations of society as well as its more agreeable aspects. But if TV in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/of-course-you-have-a-duty-to-show-the-disfigurations-of-society-as/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [The real point is that totalitarian regimes have claimed jurisdiction over the whole person, and the whole society, and they don't at all believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/the-real-point-is-that-totalitarian-regimes-have-claimed-jurisdiction/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [The great enemy of any totalitarian regime is normalization and trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/the-great-enemy-of-any-totalitarian-regime-is-normalization-and-trade/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [Well, like in Orwell books, whom I cherish very much as an author, in classical totalitarian regimes, you always have to make people hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/well-like-in-orwell-books-whom-i-cherish-very-much-as-an-author-in/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [There is no need to give in to the compromise that totalitarian regimes always count on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/there-is-no-need-to-give-in-to-the-compromise-that-totalitarian/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [Liberals and international diplomats (a distinction without a difference) have notorious difficulty understanding how to deal with totalitarian regimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-charen/liberals-and-international-diplomats-a-distinction-without-a/) [Mona Charen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-charen/) > [The history of totalitarian regimes is reflected in the evolution and perfection of the instruments of terror and more especially the police.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-joachim-friedrich/the-history-of-totalitarian-regimes-is-reflected-in-the-evolution-and/) Carl Joachim Friedrich > [“Totalitarian regimes, they declared, all had at least five things in common: a dominant ideology, a single ruling party, a secret police force prepared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/totalitarian-regimes-they-declared-all-had-at-least-five-things-in/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [There is an absolutely fundamental hostility on the part of totalitarian regimes toward religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/there-is-an-absolutely-fundamental-hostility-on-the-part-of/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [Puzzlement and doubt are, however, already crimes in the totalitarian state. The mind that is open for questions is open for dissent. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/puzzlement-and-doubt-are-however-already-crimes-in-the-totalitarian/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [“The greater danger to individual freedom comes from totalitarian regimes that regard any dissenting view as a threat to be destroyed—no matter if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stevenson/the-greater-danger-to-individual-freedom-comes-from-totalitarian/) [William Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stevenson/) > [“This was laughable, of course, but that’s always the way with totalitarian regimes. Language gets turned on its head. Serfdom is freedom. Repression is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/this-was-laughable-of-course-but-that-s-always-the-way-with/) [Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/) > [Dominion is a spy novel, a love story, and also I hope gives some sense of the difficulties faced by dissidents under any totalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/dominion-is-a-spy-novel-a-love-story-and-also-i-hope-gives-some-sense/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) ## More by Rupert Murdoch > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Maybe most Moslems peaceful, but until they recognize and destroy their growing jihadist cancer they must be held responsible,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/maybe-most-moslems-peaceful-but-until-they-recognize-and-destroy/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/since-when-are-egyptians-not-white-all-i-know-are/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [People are playing games on their TV, young men are, and people are shopping... they are not watching their news channels, but they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/people-are-playing-games-on-their-tv-young-men-are-and-people-are/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Most newspaper companies still have their heads in the sand, but other media companies are aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/most-newspaper-companies-still-have-their-heads-in-the-sand-but-other/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [If the head man in a company is not working 12 hours a day, doing things, taking risks, but also standing with his people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/if-the-head-man-in-a-company-is-not-working-12-hours-a-day-doing/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [While we reduce our own carbon footprint we will encourage the companies who truck our DVDs and newspapers, sell us paper, and provide an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/while-we-reduce-our-own-carbon-footprint-we-will-encourage-the/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I felt that it's best just to be as transparent as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-felt-that-it-s-best-just-to-be-as-transparent-as-possible/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [No one's going to be able to operate without a grounding in the basic sciences. Language would be helpful, although English is becoming increasingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/no-one-s-going-to-be-able-to-operate-without-a-grounding-in-the-basic/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I challenge anybody to show me an example of bias in Fox News Channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-challenge-anybody-to-show-me-an-example-of-bias-in-fox-news-channel/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I have never asked a prime minister for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-have-never-asked-a-prime-minister-for-anything/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I'm not ashamed of any of my papers at all and I'm rather sick of snobs that tell us that they're bad papers, snobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-not-ashamed-of-any-of-my-papers-at-all-and-i-m-rather-sick-of/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Size and synergies between the different segments of the company matter. As far as we are concerned, the Internet is broadening our opportunity, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/size-and-synergies-between-the-different-segments-of-the-company/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) [Explore all 146 Rupert Murdoch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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