Speaking of databases, The Sundance Channel is showing “The Lives of Others” (Das Leben der Anderen) right now.
It's safe to assume that the channel didn't select that one as a cautionary tale. That fact alone is chilling in its implications.
“The Lives of Others” is simply one of my fav movies. It shows what a tyrranical govt. can do to the people’s lives where there are no checks and balances. East Germany seems almost comically run, but the power the political class had over the non-political was very scary.
The twists in the story line were captivating. The non-political Stasi agent turnes out to be a hero. I’ll have to watch it again; I have purchased the DVD and have it at home.