Venezuelan President and international lady killa Hugo Chavez has signed an “intelligence law” that would encourage citizens to spy on and report one another’s actions to the government. After all, sharing is caring:

“It’s a system just like Cuba,” said Raul Barbiera, an 80-year-old barber who was born in Spain and emigrated to Venezuela decades ago. He said the law reminds him of his experiences under the fascist dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, when “you couldn’t speak against the government”.

Barbiera said people will be more careful what they say because “anyone can start a file on you”.

The law states that security forces don’t need court orders for surveillance such as wiretapping, and authorities can withhold evidence from defence lawyers if that is deemed to be in the interest of national security.

Nancy Silva, a 45-year-old shopkeeper, said she fears the creation neighbourhood-level spying networks because the law says community-based organisations may be called upon to provide intelligence.

“The government wants citizens to spy on each other, that’s scary,” Silva said.

Yeah, know what else is scary, 45-year-old shopkeeper Nancy Silva? A world in which Hugo Chavez does not know what you cry after masturbating every night before bed because your creepy neighbor from across the shaft did not feel obligated, by law, to tell him so. Especially if you happen to cry “ASSASSINATE THAT HIJO DE PUTA CHAVEZ!” while climaxing. Like… no one we know does.

Ahem.

Chavez creates new ‘spying law’ [UK Press]