Stasi

The Stasi were an East German secret police force that existed between 1950 and 1990. They were responsible for spying on East German citizens and repressing any activities they didn't consider to be in the government's best interests. They were known to use methods such as surveillance, phone tapping, and networks of informers to gather information on people they were suspicious of. They used this information to discredit and punish anyone they believed to be dissidents or enemies of the state.