A number of crimes proven in the past have been similar to Organised Stalking. Here I mention 'COINTELPRO', 'MKUltra' and 'Zersetzung'.

 

COINTELPRO was a series of secret and illegal projects conducted by criminals abusing their position in the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They unlawfully surveilled, infiltrated, discredited and disrupted legitimate political organisations, including the Black Civil Rights Movement, anti-war protesters and other humanitarian organisations. Methods included infiltrating organisations with agents, 'psychological warfare', harrassment by the legal system (setting up fabricated evidence and perjured testimony) and illegal force (threats). 

 

MKUltra is recognised a 'mind control' project that was operated by criminals in the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Originally explained as a measure to assist with legitimate interrogations, the project conducted behavioural modification 'experiments' to manipulate people's mental states and alter their brain functions. These activities were carried out on innocent, non-consenting people in the United States of America, without their awareness. Victims were subjected to hypnosis, drugs, sensory deprivation and physical and verbal abuse, as well as other forms of torture. 

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Zersetzung was a psychological technique used by the East German secret police, the Stasi in the 1970s/80s. Zersetzung applied findings from operational psychology to damage a person's mental state, for example, by undermining their self-confidence and self-esteem. Tactics included intimidation and social isolation (through the disruption of relationships), the exploitation of personal traits (including weak family bonds), the generation of mistrust or mutual suspicion among groups and the creation of false criminal charges and entrapment (Zersetzung was applied before, during, after, or instead of incarcerating the individual). The aim was to leave the individual feeling too unnerved and distressed to have the time or energy for political activism. Although not proven, some have alleged the Stasi used X-rays and radiation to provoke long-term health problems as well.

 

Up to 10,000 individuals are estimated to have become victims; 5,000 of whom sustained irreversible damage. Data suggests there was a ratio of four or five authorised Zersetzung operators for each targeted group and three for each targeted individual. The Stasi relied on a network of informal collaborators and the State's power over formal institutions to carry out this co-ordinated suppression. As stated in its own dictionary: "The political explosive force of Zersetzung heightens demands regarding the maintenance of secrecy".

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Wehrkraftzersetzung was a related programme instituted directly by Hitler during the Third Reich. Under this regime, acts deemed to be unacceptable included:

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• Remarks in opposition to their ideology;

• Doubt about the legitimacy of their ideological principles;

• Dissemination of contrary information;

• Doubt about official rhetoric;

• Maing contact with victims of the system; 

• Disparaging important 'weapons' (German propaganda);

• Discussing contingencies in the event of defeat;

• The assertion that other ideologies are 'not so bad' or that they should be considered.