What counter surveillance measures would you take if you were running an organized crime family in this day and age? This life is becoming extremely difficult for people. What can the mafia do to counter all this? I keep thinking about Philly underboss Stevie Mazzone who had no idea he was being recorded when he was conducting his ceremony. What would you have done if you had been Stevie?

Back in the day stay off that damn phone. If you must call, only pay phone to pay phone only to set up and eye ball to eye ball meeting. No Phones!
Today you need to be aware that someone is always watching and listening. Hard to imagine but you need to realize that's life in today's high tech world :-(

I always recall that scene in Traffic where they have a meeting in a pool to thwart recording devices.

Honestly, idk how tf these top guys don’t take some time to learn sign language.

I remember Chin’s daughter saying they would write things, read them, then burn the paper.

The boss of Detroit when had to talk of important things in a cold storage.

For sure there expert people that can enable all eletronic devices,plus use various messaggers to gave the orders on the streets,dont use the same place for the meetings and search all the men for bugs.

Just don’t sell drugs or commit violence. That’s the only counter surveillance you need.

No commit violence? What kind of criminal you should be?

I agree Furio. That was a pussy comment. Real criminals commit violence and lots of it

right on with traffic scene....Also how about start tailing the people you are associating with and start using surveillance on them as to where they go and who they meet...kind of like they did in The Departed

No phones allowed anywhere near a meeting, no watches, no electronics or metal of any kind.
No jackets, no hats, and make it a rule to turn pockets inside out, and lift shirts, everyone in the meeting has to do it, even Capos and hire ups.
That's the only way it work.
Maybe during induction ceremony - everyone has to wear tank top and gym shorts. I know how it looks, but it keeps the risk of recording down.
In this day and age of cameras everywhere, recording devices everywhere, GPS, etc, they need to come up with super strict rules.

In the modern age,counter surveillance is non-existent. Given the incredible technological advances that Law enforcement has at their fingertips,the best advice is to assume that every phone you use is tapped,every meeting you attend is observed and/or monitored,and every time you go anywhere,someone is watching. So don't use names,don't discuss any specific details, and limit your exposure to any incriminating info. Then,after you've done all this,pray that some rat won't throw all your effort out the window.

hahahah I mean you are spot on; philly has seen some huge busts in the past 3 years starting with that huge cocaine bust last year; seems obv the feds are concentrating on LCN but there is a ton of "organized crime" in west and north philly that doesnt seem to get as much attention and is doing way more damage to those communities than these gambling and extortion charges. The oxies are a different level and if true grande is done

Pussy comment? Maybe you and Furio the dimwit aka Mr Wikipedia are just both dumb as a box of rocks. Of course violence needs to be committed, it doesn’t mean you have to be the one to do it. Money speaks louder than violence. Ya keep a couple meatheads around you and they can crack heads for you.

I'd be like the Chin, only talk in the bathroom with the water in the shower running and the toilet flushing in hush tones.

You saw some interesting precautions in the movie "Casino": Talking at bus stops with mouths masked; talking "personal" stuff for X number of minutes until the FBI was required to hang up; having cars stashed away at indoor garages and changing them in the course of a single trip, etc. But, the best precaution is to talk one on one outdoors while walking, heads down. Joe Massino ordered all his family's social clubs closed as a precaution.

Vinny Basciano was ahead of the time. Even back in his run as AB way before technology has gotten super crazy he was already fully on the everybody must strip naked and then wear a bath robe even the old men capos. And they all god offended and mad and cried to Massino about it. But Basciano showed me right there if he didn't get railroaded he could have revived the Bonannos big time.

Because at the end it was the old time capos who got offended who ended up ratting and taking em all down...Coppa,Shellackhead, Tartaglione, Etc.

Yeah, Vinny was way ahead of his time. If Massino and Cicale had kept their disgusting mouths shut, my man would be free today. He was already a top player in his area by the early '80s