> Citation needed (especially that they do it for everyone).
1. We know that they can. If you were designing a mass survaillance system, you would store all incoming information into unique bins now, then later select on the bins of interest.
2. Three years ago I asked an ex-govt employee who would know. When I got to that exact question, he got visibly upset and abruptly ended the conversation.
The US does track what you say on Facebook to see how much of a terrorist or criminal you might be. Just because you think "praise the government" isn't worthy of reward, doesn't mean it isn't. Afterall, China doesn't have a democracy, so if people are too dissatisfied with the government, instead of voting it out, they might have a revolution, which would be disastrous. In that environment, praising the government can be helpful to keep people safe from violence.
I agree it makes sense for the Chinese govt. just as it made sense, for example, for a slave trader to put down slaves that didn't toe his line and reward those that obeyed him fully.
You know what might make more sense? The Chinese govt. (or any other similar aspiring govt.) should spend billions on BCI research and implant chips in everyone so that any dis-harmonious thoughts can be culled right at the source.
China lacks almost any societal pressure valves at all without online dissent and armed revolution is all that's left if people become unsatisfied. "Praising the government" makes people less safe, since honest real public sentiment is well obscured.
> The FBI and CIA I think also collect statistics and profile relevant individuals.
Citation needed (especially that they do it for everyone).