&gt; But comparing this to censorship and related problems in China and Russia (single-party states with control of speech at the policy level) is just silly, for lack of a better word.<p>I&#x27;m not so sure, I remember when Poland was under Russian control (before 1989). At least when you were making a phone call they had courtesy to say that your call is monitored.<p>Today the technology advanced so much that not only someone can listen your conversation, but also all of your conversation could be recorded and stored for years. Even if you don&#x27;t care about that. Such information could be used to blackmail people in public offices allowing to control legislative and judicial branches. This itself endangers democracy.