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1. PeppyS+(OP)[view] [source] 2025-07-23 15:00:40
You are misleading by using "secret police" when what you are are looking for is the "security police".

Secret police definition [1]

> Secret police (or political police) are police, intelligence, or security agencies that engage in covert operations against a government's political, ideological, or social opponents and dissidents. Secret police organizations are characteristic of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes.

Security police definition [2]

> In some countries, security police is the name given to the secret security and intelligence services charged with protecting the state at the highest level, including responsibilities such as personal protection of the head of state, counter-espionage, and anti-terrorism.

Specific example for Swedish 'Security Police'.[3] if you look up any EU agency with similar roles it will be found that they are all security, not secret.

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_police

2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_police

3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Security_Service

replies(2): >>0point+qe >>NoGrav+Hp1
2. 0point+qe[view] [source] 2025-07-23 16:16:09
>>PeppyS+(OP)
Okay, I was not aware of this distinction. Thanks for correcting me!

FWIW, the distinction is not as clear cut to me. In the 1970s, the ruling government body (social democrats) passed on information in order to make registers of political opponents in the far left and far right to SÄPO.

More of that part here: https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A4kerhetspolisen#%C3%96ve...

The Nixon watergate scandal was also similar to your first definition there.

replies(1): >>0point+YX
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3. 0point+YX[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-07-23 20:33:16
>>0point+qe
Just wanted to add an important piece about us not living in authoritarian states...

Palantir, founded by Peter Thiel (currently funding JD Vance), is building a vast person database [1].

I believe their biggest customer is the US government, and is being used by ICE [2].

1: https://beyondthefirewall.substack.com/p/palantirs-new-maste...

2: https://www.404media.co/leaked-palantirs-plan-to-help-ice-de...

4. NoGrav+Hp1[view] [source] 2025-07-24 00:03:43
>>PeppyS+(OP)
The distinction between "counter-espionage" and "covert operations against a government's political, ideological, or social opponents and dissidents" is historically extremely permeable.
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