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.

No, we haven’t “pushed it to the absolute limit.” We’ve pushed it to (and sometimes beyond) what’s Constitutional etc, but no, that’s not “the absolute limit.”

In other countries you can just be beheaded for saying negative things about the government. No trial necessary.

No, it’s quite illegal for the government to coerce private companies. Companies can and should and do sue the government for this.