[estearum]

lmfao

You know you're sitting here on the open Internet complaining about the US government with literally zero fear of any repercussions in any sense whatsoever?

You should go to an actual authoritarian country and just ask someone their opinion on their government.

The difference between flippant, hyperbolic complaining (you) and someone who will actually glance over their shoulder and totally clam up in response to that type of question is quite chilling in reality.

[preg_match]

The US is not authoritarian. But in terms of surveillance and privacy violations, we’ve really pushed it to the absolute limit. All of your communications are effectively tapped, especially since the US government can coerce private companies without letting you know.

There are very few exceptions, and of those that exist virtually all are under existential threat constantly.

[simjnd]

The fact that (for now) there are no consequences has no connection to the original point about privacy.

The fact that China acts punitively with the data they gather on their citizens, and the US does not (yet), doesn't change at all the fact that the US actively harvests that data in a very aggressive way.

There may or may never be a time where the US starts acting on it, covertly or openly. But still, they're siphoning all of my data, and all of yours too and I don't see why we are downplaying it by saying it's worse elsewhere.

[estearum]

Of course it's relevant!

A country that siphons up data and then arrests you for saying mean things about Dear Leader is a lot, a lot worse than a country that siphons up data and then basically can't do anything with it.

I don't think it should be downplayed, but it certainly isn't the same. It just isn't. It's ridiculous and counterproductive to describe it as such.

[simjnd]

Where have I claimed that it isn't worse, or that it is the same?

[estearum]

> I don't see why we are downplaying it by saying it's worse elsewhere

This would suggest it is not worse elsewhere? Or are you saying it is worse elsewhere, but it being worse elsewhere is not a reason to downplay it here? Which, I agree with.

[LtWorf]

Perhaps you have not heard of Francesca Albanese?

USA government does repercussions, severe ones.

[estearum]

Wow, is GP afraid of being sanctioned?

Big if true, but I doubt it.

[LtWorf]

Are you afraid of making sense?