[supertrope]

>ease of movement

>authoritarian state

China has high speed rail. When you enter the train station security checks your national ID then screens your person and belongings. Buying a ticket requires scanning ID. Going from the station down to the platform requires scanning ID. On the train sometimes police come aboard and check everyone’s ID. When you get off the train you have to scan ID. Riding the bus or subway was one of the very few things that does not require scanning national ID or registering an account linked to national ID. However if you ride a bus into Beijing there are checkpoints requiring everyone to get off, get searched and show ID.

[mrtksn]

AFAIK it’s the same in places with high security risks, like Turkey&Israel.

I despise this, not because I’m worried about the government but because it makes me feel restrained to act in a specific manner because this is not my space and I’m being watched. It’s dehumanizing.

In most of the Europe you feel like you own the place even if there are many rules. In Eastern Europe it’s even better, you feel free and nobody is watching you. The government and the wider system feels non-existent(which is the other end of the spectrum and can result in unmaintained infrastructure but it does have its charm).

[m4r1k]

On the other hand, you guys are early on in the authoritarian journey. We shall see a few years down the line if and how things get ugly.

[vachina]

You seem to get quite hung up on ID

[pjc50]

Fortunately Greyhound in the US are resisting ID sweeps on their buses.