the difference between intensifying and tightening

In the following sentence:
In a significant ____ (intensifying/tightening) of legal controls over the press, the Lord Chancellor will introduce a draft bill that will propose making payments to witnesses illegal.
I tend to choose tightening, because I have seen expressions like "to tighten up on the control" and "to tighten one's hold on something", but the answer is intensifying. I don't know the difference between these two words, so could you explain it? Thank you.

I don't see any difference in this context. What is the source of the exercise?

Rover

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rover_KE

I don't see any difference in this context. What is the source of the exercise?

Rover

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Oh, it's from a test paper

I agree with Rover that both are possible; but if I were forced to choose one, it would be "tightening". It's a bad test question.

Thank you all for the help. Now I'm clear.