I agree with you that state sponsored harrasment to silent opposition is nothing new. But what is new is the technology that we find in our lives. We have seen first hand in the past few months mass account bans on the largest websites on the net.

It is important to not be desensitized by ongoing oppression and no two things can really be the same.

The internet is/was a platform for EVERYBODY to communicate. It has connected the world. It is also relatively a new technology. So what we are seeing is the weaking control mechanism of tyrants, and they are doing what they can to take that power back.

The ability for individuals to speak freely AND have a platform to do so is the an essential part of keeping power and greed in check.