Whenever new communications and media platforms have been introduced, their innovation and application was met with scepticism, fear or outright banning by the ruling parties and authorities who feared the unknown medium, and its capacity to oust them from power. Therefore, new (mass) media historically face suspicion, and are liable to excessive regulation as they spark fear of potential detrimental effects on society, security and political power structures. This has proven true in the publication and transmission of certain types of content from the printing press through the advent of radio, television and satellite transmissions, as well as other forms.
