Marx, Murdoch and freedom of the press

Murdoch opposes the recent Australian security anti-terror proposals. He says:

Our current government is introducing legislation that includes jailing journalists for up to 10 years if they disclose information that relates to a "special intelligence operation." This proscription lasts in perpetuity. Forever. Long after an operation is complete. And breaching it has no defined defences, despite such defences being well understood under Australian law.

With 1.8 billion smart phones in use in the world, each capable of publishing and receiving media, it must be increasingly difficult being a dictator in this world, trying to control populations. In the old days, they could send in goons to seize printing-presses. But today?

Through the knowledge and choices that the new communications technologies allow to flourish, people like myself see the likelihood of a better future, one in which the big media empires will be redundant and 'melt into air'.