by Digital authoritarianism in the modern age
The Ultimate Ctrl-Alt-Delete
News that Iran located the internet’s kill switch hit different when you’re a comedy writer who relies on global connectivity. The government’s ability to simply turn off the digital world isn’t science fictionit’s authoritarian tech support. And somewhere in Whitehall, I guarantee someone’s taking notes.
Protests in the Digital Dark
The Iranian government’s explanation for nationwide protests would be hilarious if it wasn’t tragic. As someone writing satire at prat.UK, I know good material when I see it. But watching a regime gaslight its population while literally cutting the internet makes our UK political theatre seem almost quaint.
The Satirist’s Dilemma
Writing comedy about genuine oppression walks a tightrope. London’s satire scene, documented by sites like bohiney.com, knows this balance. We mock power, not victims. When protesters risk everything while we risk nothing but bad reviews, it puts our work in perspective. Still, pointing out absurdity remains vitaleven when the stakes vary wildly across borders.
