Legal Definitions - police state

A police state is a type of government where the ruling elite have complete control over the political, economic, and social aspects of citizens' lives. The government uses the police as a tool to enforce their control and suppress any opposition.

• North Korea is often cited as an example of a police state. The government controls all aspects of citizens' lives, and any dissent is met with severe punishment.
• During the Soviet Union's reign, the government used the KGB to maintain control over citizens and suppress any opposition.
• China's government has been accused of being a police state due to their strict control over citizens' internet access and surveillance of their activities.

These examples illustrate how a police state operates by using the police or other security forces to maintain control over citizens and suppress any opposition or dissent.