[sandworm101]

>> When Filatov was at work, the operative workers infiltrated his apartment and installed technical surveillance resources for video surveillance and photography.

1977. Video equipment was VERY different then, especially on that side of the iron curtain. It would have had moving parts, motors, probably requiring a degree of soundproofing. I want to see pictures of where/how they hid this stuff because it wasn't easy.

[pilsetnieks]

There was a joke in the Soviet Union:

  - How do you know the KGB is surveilling you?
  - A new wardrobe has just appeared in your apartment.

[sandworm101]

In parts of china, some uighur households are assigned a live-in spy, an agent openly living with the family to monitor and report on the household's activities.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-uighurs-...

"China sends state spies to live in Uighur Muslim homes and attend private family weddings and funerals"

[Cthulhu_]

I did a quick google and here's a link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2018/aug/01/cold-w...

[formerly_proven]

Perhaps it is lost in translation, but video isn't film. So video surveillance probably means they placed a video camera (probably based on a video tube) and ran cables.

[sandworm101]

Lol. Kids. Video is certainly not film, but once upon a time was regularly recorded onto magnetic tape running over reels (google "VCR" or "VHS"). Still photography also used moving parts. Things like shutters would make audible clicks when exposing the photographic film, which then had to be moved out of position mechanically. That "click" noise on your iPhone camera is actually designed to mimic this ancient camera technology.

[jacquesm]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_camera_tube

[smogcutter]

The tape deck would’ve been a separate unit and could be kept anywhere you could run a cable to.

It’s clear that the poster you’re condescending to understands this.

[sandworm101]

>> The tape deck would’ve been a separate unit

In an ideal situation. In a realworld situation that means running wires through walls, not something done easily in this situation. Hiding a camera in a bookcase is easy. Secretly running wires from that bookcase to a recorder in the next room is not.

[bigiain]

They literally kicked his upstairs neighbours out and moved in there themselves. Once you’ve done that, dropping wiring down from your floor to his ceiling become trivial (at least for certain types of building construction).

[vageli]

CCTV has been around since the 40s.

[netsharc]

The KGB moved the target's upstairs neighbours and took over that apartment, so probably they made holes to peep through.

Talk about power though, imagine getting a knock on your door and being told "you're moving apartments, and don't ask why or who we are.".