"the greatest surveillance network the world has ever seen"

I'd have to say it was the Statsi. The occupying Russians had no love for East Germany. The populace was so intimidated that family members would turn one another in, as it was a crime not to do so. It is true that the Internet surveillance is much less labor intensive, but if you want to go to the trouble of having an extensive network of finks you can't beat that. Then nothing and nowhere is safe. Even if you try your hardest you might slip up.

On the other hand the US gvt. has recently started a program to get citizens to snitch on each other. So give them time.