+1 to this! I wonder if some of the horror in it (the constant threat of the Stasi and its implications) translates well to non-German audiences. In case you're wondering about Germany's strict privacy laws - this is part of why they exist.

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elzbardico 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Probably this is an also big component in the notorious German preference for cash over cards.

	▲	immibis 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		That was caused by interchange fees, and it has disappeared now.

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ekianjo 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Germany's strict privacy laws

Not anymore.

	▲	wolvoleo an hour ago \| parent [-]
		No, on the contrary. Germany is a big proponent of chatcontrol.

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assaddayinh 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

The havoc that finding out your family and friends spied on you for benefits, can not be overstated. How deeply anti social and lonely such a divided and conquered socialist utopian society is can not be expressed in words, and yet it can.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesbeauftragter_f%C3%BCr_di...

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0928374082 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Nowadays we don't even need family and friends to spy on you for benefits; websites and apps do it for advertising revenue.

	▲	mitthrowaway2 an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I wonder if future generations will wonder why being spied on and monitored was even noteworthy, let alone a cause for concern.