I'm just not quite seeing how it shows authoritarianism if you weren't suggesting government involvement?
Also your original comment sounds like you're saying Aus and UK are worse than the US on this front, but the worst case example you've just provided is from the US.
>Aus and UK are worse than the US on this front
They are. Just look at how people were treated during COVID and how you can literally get arrested for tweeting "offensive content." That wouldn't happen in the US.
And yes, the example shows that it is not above a politician to literally kill a journalist with their own hands because their corruption is being uncovered. I guess in this case, the dude unfortunately succeeded but there's still two attempted murders and arson cases in AUS over a journalist uncovering corruption. Seems much more organized and deeper than a dude singlehandedly breaking into a house to do such things.
It does raise the question of _who_ would care enough to firebomb his house though...
I mean, just a few months ago a local gov official literally stabbed a reporter to death for a hell of a lot less.
https://cpj.org/2022/09/police-arrest-local-official-suspect...
So... stranger things have happened.