A better example are people that do have something to hide - whistleblowers, union organizers, political activists, journalists, upstart politicians... How does

A better example are people that do have something to hide - whistleblowers, union organizers, political activists, journalists, upstart politicians... How does the nature of their work change, if the current government in power knows all their secrets, and abuses or selectively leaks/prosecutes them? And does that change society for the better, or for the worse?