fun fact: Sauron did not create the Palantiri (btw, the word Palantir literally means “to see from afar” in Quenya, Tolkien’s high-elven language, the same etymology as the English word “television”), but he was able to gain control of the stones and influence the thoughts of others who looked into them by showing them visions of only the things he wanted them to see, which would bring those who were susceptible over to his side, or for those who were less susceptible, drive them to hopelessness and despair (this is what happened to Denethor, the Steward of Gondor; the movies decided to remove that plot point and make him look like an asshole for no reason). anyway, just a random fun fact about a fictional world, definitely no real modern relevance to powerful malicious actors gaining control of “television” or other means of rapid communication to bend the thoughts of others to their will