The Return of the Inquisition in the Age of Surveillance: A Commentary by Peter Menzies
Commentary
With the introduction of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg, a reaction was swift from those threatened by its power. In 1455, when Mr. Gutenberg printed the Bible using his invention, eyebrows were raised as it made the Bible more accessible for people to read and interpret. However, a generation later, the suppression of ideas challenging the status quo began in earnest, especially after Martin Luther’s Reformation.
The Roman Inquisition was established to seek out and eradicate heresies, such as the Protestant belief in forming a personal relationship with God. The Inquisition focused on Venice, a hub of Europe’s publishing industry in the 16th century.
Where the Inquisitions were most severe—Spain, Portugal, and Italy—they were most successful in maintaining the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church. In other regions, political and religious ideas spread rapidly through the printing press, leading to significant societal changes.
The parallels between the response to the printing press in the 15th century and the World Wide Web in the late 20th century are striking. When those in power realize that ideas are spreading beyond their control, restrictions are imposed.
Today, the powerful justify restrictions on the internet to save us from ourselves. Despite some validity to their concerns, the suppression of internet speech is leading to a new era of surveillance.
Efforts to control the internet started in Europe and the UK, inspiring similar regulation proposals in North America. The case of Linzi Smith in Newcastle exemplifies the consequences of expressing dissenting opinions on social media.
Ms. Smith’s ban by NUFC for expressing concerns about modern gender ideology highlights the growing trend of restricting online speech.
Canada’s Online Harms Act allows complaints about online speech to be filed with the Human Rights Commission, potentially leading to hefty fines and content removal.
While the punishments are less severe, the underlying motives remain the same as historical inquisitions: to suppress dissenting voices.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
