Why did the open flow of information become a threat to the old order?

Correct answer: Because people no longer depended on controlled information

The governing concept is the political effect of ending censorship and widening communication. Under the old order, rulers and privileged institutions could control what people read, heard, and discussed. When pamphlets, newspapers, speeches, songs, and other forms of communication circulated more freely, ordinary people could compare claims, question authority, and share arguments about rights and government. Therefore, option A is correct: people no longer depended entirely on officially controlled information. Option B reverses the effect, because censorship weakened rather than doubled. Option C is false because newspapers and printed material helped spread debate. Option D is also opposite to the change, since public discussion became more possible, not automatically a crime.