How Technology Empowers—and Imperils—Dictators

Technology's impact on dictatorial regimes is a double-edged sword. In March 2022, a Russian TV editor, Marina Ovsyannikova, protested the war in Ukraine on live television by holding up a sign and shouting against the war. Her actions were quickly silenced and no similar protests have occurred on Russian television since, due in part to increased security measures and a climate of fear. This incident highlights the challenges of speaking out against authoritarian regimes in the face of strict control and repression. The ability to suppress dissent has been strengthened in some cases, limiting opportunities for public protest. A related incident occurred in October 2024, involving a person named Margar.