The many crime series that followed after 9/11 (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the many true crime shows, etc.) were only a psyop to make people think that the criminal investigative apparatus of the state were all-knowing, all-powerful and were full of brilliant people when in actuality most police detectives are flawed, overworked as it stands and are actually not conveniently brilliant when it suits a plot.

All part of the "always being watched" dynamic.
It's not true.