In communist Romania, when the dark and bloody shadow of the Soviet Union stretched across Eastern Europe, people were afraid to speak — even whisper — bad thoughts about the government. Romanians were paranoid that Nicolae Ceaușescu’s regime had bugged the entire country with listening devices and informants. This is how Ceaușescu wanted it. He used fear to keep people in line. His thugs in the Securitate bribed, threatened, and even tortured citizens into spying and snitching on their neighbors, friends, and family members.