The hidden economy of media control

Nick Potter writes that the monopolization of the media is not only undemocratic, it allows criminal economies to thrive behind a veneer of control.

WHEN A GOVERNMENT declares that it “only controls” the media, it is not just political bravado; This is a deep signal.

Beneath the rhetorical flourish lies the architecture of organized capture: narrative capture, surveillance capture, commerce capture. In jurisdictions where the executive, judiciary and press are gathered under a single authority, the conditions are ripe for illegal economies to develop behind the mask of legitimacy.

Monopolization of information

At its most basic, it means the power to control the media, block investigations, shape public perception, and protect or conceal entire illicit trading networks.

When the press cannot investigate, the judiciary is not free, and law enforcement operates without transparent oversight, crimes are not just committed, they become structural. The story is never told, the victims remain invisible, and the perpetrators walk in full view under the guise of officialdom.

But let’s be clear: This doesn’t mean that every state with strong media controls will be criminalized. This also doesn’t mean that all trading done behind closed doors is automatically illegal. This means creating ideal conditions for the gray zone industry.

Emerging sectors

It is useful to see what kind of trade proliferates under these conditions:

Resource theft and smuggling.

In states where the media is tightly controlled, illegal mining, timber logging, oil diversion or mineral expropriation can proceed with near impunity. When the press cannot report on environmental destruction or corruption, activists are silenced and the flow of goods remains secret.

Human trafficking and forced labor.

When investigative journalism is silenced, victims of forced labor, modern slavery or human trafficking become invisible. In this context, entire fleets of ships, domestic worker exploitation or prison-labor systems can hide behind a wall of information control.

Narcotics and chemical precursors.

When the state controls the “war on drugs,” it can operate or allow drug corridors while broadcasting “success” to the public. Without independent oversight, the line between law enforcement and racketeering becomes blurred.

Arms trade and militia financing.

State-run companies may sell weapons to embargoed regimes, finance paramilitary forces, or funnel money through front companies. Controlled media ensures that sales happen quietly, profits flow unseen, and public records remain clean.

Organ trafficking and medical abuse.

Illegal medical harvesting, organ trafficking, or experimentation can flourish when medical systems, prisons, or detention camps operate out of sight. With no independent press to uncover anomalies, victims become lost in the system.

Digital surveillance and data collection.

In our age, seizing information is an illegal trade. When media is monopolized by the state, surveillance programs, data mining of citizens, and intelligence exports become part of the underground economy.

Money laundering and front companies.

Because the media is under state control, whistleblower whistleblowing is rare, regulatory institutions are weak, and shell companies proliferate. The narrative monopoly protects large-scale laundering and illicit trading of funds.

Profit mechanism

How exactly does media control turn into profit? It follows a four-step transformation:

Narrative monopoly: If there is no story, the crime does not exist in the public mind.

Selective exposure: From time to time, “public trials” are held, almost like a theater play, not to eliminate systemic corruption, but to strengthen the legitimacy of the system.

Propaganda feedback: With repeated messaging, public trust in authority increases while opposition decreases; The number of informed citizens-voters is decreasing.

Lease extraction: The system offers stability, not chaos, as officials, cronies, and state actors derive financial dividends from illicit trade.

These dynamics coalesce into a competitive authoritarianism model; The system looks democratic, complete with elections and media, but the pillars of separation are hollow.

Legal and global implications

In accordance with international law and global norms, such conditions may affect states or actors in the following situations:

corruption, as defined United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2003);

complicity in crimes against humanity, especially where forced labor or trafficking has become systematic; And

Violations of freedom of the press, such as Article 19 of the Convention International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

However, enforcement is extraordinarily difficult, especially when the judiciary, police and media are aligned with or captured by the executive. Transparency disappears, control disappears, the state becomes both referee and participant.

What can control this power?

It’s easy to fall into despair, but there are tools to counteract this trend:

Whistleblowing protection: Safe havens are vital for brave journalists and insiders.

Open source intelligence (OSINT): Satellite imagery, business data leaks, and financial flow trackers — all offer independent verification.

International pressure and sanctions: Naming and shaming, combined with targeted economic measures, can disrupt compromised systems.

Public digital literacy: Citizens who recognize propaganda, misinformation, and information monopolies take back power.

Why is this important for Australia?

Although Australia is seen as a strong democracy, global turmoil is teaching us to be vigilant. As media ownership consolidates, surveillance expands, and executive power grows, the separation of powers and the independence of the press and courts are not guaranteed. When a system of power seizes the right to control the narrative, the question arises: What is happening in the blind spot?

The lesson, then, is that control of the media is not just a matter of information; This is a matter of economy, justice, human rights and democracy. When an authority controls the story, the story becomes a service to the authority.