An 18 November 2016 article by Sarah Kendzior, author of books like They Knew, Hiding in Plain Sight, Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think!.
I have been studying authoritarian states for over a decade, and I would never exaggerate the severity of this threat. Others who study or have lived in authoritarian states have come to the same conclusion as me.
Her books and writing have been a bit prophetic, even into 2025. Worth revisiting.