What's the point of surveiling citizenry? - eviltoast

Full blown essay like answers are more than welcomed. What does the ‘ruling class’ gains from surveiling it’s own population. What do they fear the most? What there is to lose, what there is to gain?

  • z00s@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    The best way to stop people from thinking about the government is to make them constantly paranoid that their every move is being scrutinized; especially when it’s citizens watching other citizens.

    Was that a casual chat with your neighbour, or were they trying to find out where you were last night, so they can report on you?

    Will that offhand wise-crack about the government that you made to your coworker be reported?

    That DVD you bought from the local market- could it be considered anti government in any way? What if the stall holder that you bought it from was a state security plant?