How is this even possible?
The Whig Theory of History fails again.
It's like crazy, lazy and entitled sysops (possibly demented by self-inflicted information and task overload) locking users out so that system can run uninterrupted and unimpended by the vagaries of the people (was "2001: A Space Odyssey" actually a sly methaphor for "2016: A State Odyssey"), and the people get an explodo-collar to make doubly sure. Well, they are out shopping anyway (low prices only today!), so that to make triply sure.
We got through the Cold War with all the attendant bullshit, scare, wetwork, agitprop, coverups scandals, spying and counterspying ... and now this??