Socratic Stage: The Government’s Role in the Censorship Industry

The Government’s Role in the Censorship Industry

Censorship. Shadow banning. Government-controlled media.

In this eye-opening conversation, Mike Benz breaks down how governments justify and fund censorship, spying, and surveillance under the banners of fear and counter-terrorism. During the first Trump administration, Benz was in charge of the cyber portfolio for the U.S. State Department, where he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Technology. Prior to his State Department role, Benz served as a White House speechwriter for President Trump and advised on technology policy.

Joining Benz is New College associate professor Dr. David Ellis. Prior to joining the New College faculty, Dr. Ellis served as a Resident Senior Fellow at the Joint Special Operations University (2016-2022) affiliated with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). He applied his research on democratization and development after identity conflict to U.S. counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations at USSOCOM (2009-2013), deployed as a civilian intelligence analyst to Afghanistan in support of Village Stability Operations (2010-2011), and later served as a program manager for cyber-intelligence and socio-cultural analysis contracts (2014-2016).

Photo: Mike Benz (right) speaks with Ling Markovitz after the Socratic Stage event on December 3. Ling and her husband Michael Markovitz are dedicated and generous supporters of the Socratic Stage Dialogue Series.