The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

Manipulating information was a feature of history long before modern journalism established rules of integrity. A record dates back to ancient Rome, when Antony met Cleopatra and his political enemy Octavian launched a smear campaign against him with “short, sharp slogans written upon coins.” The perpetrator became the first Roman Emperor and “fake news had allowed Octavian to hack the republican system once and for all”. But the 21st century has seen the weaponization of information on an unprecedented scale. Powerful new technology makes the fabrication of content simple, and social networks amplify falsehoods peddled by States, populist politicians, and dishonest corporate entities. The platforms have become fertile ground for computational propaganda, ‘trolling’ and ‘troll armies’.

The passage discusses the historical use of misinformation for political purposes, dating back to ancient Rome with Octavian's smear campaign against Antony. It then highlights how the 21st century has seen an unprecedented scale of information weaponization, facilitated by powerful technology and amplified through social networks. Option C effectively conveys the continuity of using misinformation for power throughout history, now fueled by modern technology. Therefore, Option C is the correct answer.

Option A: While the passage acknowledges the historical aspect of disinformation, it emphasizes the unprecedented scale in the 21st century, which is not captured in this option.

Option B focuses on the need for critical reading without explicitly highlighting the historical context and the weaponization of information for power.

Option D does not emphasize the broader historical and contemporary context of misinformation for political purposes.