Well, his thing was a culture where everyone was guilty of something and punishment was pretty harsh. To some extent like now. I'm sure I'm not recycling all my garbage precisely legally and that cap needs to be on (or off?) the creamer and I certainly was guilty of speeding this morning like everyone else on the road.
I meant just outright fabrication. Record one conversation about my coworker being on vacation in northern Wisconsin to shoot deer and another conversation about my watching the president make a speech before I went to the boy scout troop meeting on Monday and a semi-skilled editor can cut and paste together fake audio evidence that I'm the ringleader of a military coup with all kinds of detailed elaborate plans. Now that wouldn't result in a guilty verdict, but might result in swatting or just generic harassment, or maybe end up on some .gov list.
In the United States, at least, it's pretty likely that you're committing "crimes" unknowingly with some regularity. No fabrication is likely necessary if the authorities want to put you in a position of taking a plea bargain or gambling that you'll end up in prison. (See https://www.amazon.com/Three-Felonies-Day-Target-Innocent/dp... if this interests you.)
Well, I guess the quote also means how the most innocent thing, extracted from its context, can be very damaging. There's no need to edit your audio clips, just to imply it. "Tomorrow the president is going to northern Wisconsin. Mr. VLM is on record discussing shooting opportunities and ammo sale points near this precise area on the same precise day...". As you say, nothing that would stand trial, but enough for character assassination.
I meant just outright fabrication. Record one conversation about my coworker being on vacation in northern Wisconsin to shoot deer and another conversation about my watching the president make a speech before I went to the boy scout troop meeting on Monday and a semi-skilled editor can cut and paste together fake audio evidence that I'm the ringleader of a military coup with all kinds of detailed elaborate plans. Now that wouldn't result in a guilty verdict, but might result in swatting or just generic harassment, or maybe end up on some .gov list.