Aside from the discussion of surveillance, surveillance + systems of censorship is a whole different level of beast.
Deepwater Horizon, where reporters, scientists, and anyone with a camera were barred from the entire area.
The Dakota Access Pipeline, where Stingrays were used to prevent news getting out, and no mainstream reporter went for days.
Coverage of Sanders' 2016 campaign, where he had roughly 5% of the coverage Trump got.
Whistle-blowers getting exiled / jailed while the whistle-blowees walk free.
The no-fly list, which you could end up on without any due process, and have no way to appeal.
There is no shortage of examples... if you look. I even seem to remember certain important stories getting removed from various social media forums...
"The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum" - that's a system.