[the_gipsy]

> Western governments can only access data from private companies if they have a search warrant.

It's disingenuous to believe that western government agencies are fully transparent and always require a judge's warrant and in general don't engage in espionage activities - the USA are especially competent at this.

[soco]

Comparing the level of intrusion of a dysfunctional government (USA) with a full blown dictatorship (China) is even more disingenuous. If you think I'm wrong look at the wisdom of the masses: why nobody wants to emigrate to China?

[the_gipsy]

I'm not comparing, the comment I replied to is. I just pointed out that it is, in practice, wrong that western government agency do need judicial warrants to acquire corporate data.

[parineum]

And yet the difference remains. Imagine if the NSA didn't have to hide their likely illegal activities and they were instead their explicit, public and legal goal. The CCCP is proudly the worst case scenario for the NSA.

[ssnistfajen]

They aren't being disingenuous, because they clearly know it. They just don't care because disrupting basic civilized discussion via dehumanization is literally their task.