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I've heard the Stasi were breaking into people's homes and stealing their underwear to store in archives of scent jars for their dogs, but as extreme as that is
by mcpackieh 3y ago
I've heard the Stasi were breaking into people's homes and stealing their underwear to store in archives of scent jars for their dogs, but as extreme as that is I don't think that and their other tactics gave them anything close to the surveillance capabilities modern governments now have thanks to everybody carrying a smartphone 24/7.
- robertlagrant 3y agoWell, sometimes they'd have someone crouched in the room next door listening and looking. That seems fairly invasive even by today's standards.
- mcpackieh 3y agoYes, the things the Stasi did were insanely paranoid. But I think they still got less "bang for their buck" than modern western democracies. The latter have a far more complete map of who associates with who, logs of where people have been even months before they become subjects of interest, etc.
- robertlagrant 3y agoI think it was probably better - if people can turn in their neighbours or family for a small reward that's a lot cheaper than mass surveillance, and it induces compliance as a bonus!