They know everything, can track people, can punish them, etc. Also much of the gov t is unofficial, like the mob, yet operates like a major gov t should. The Mafia gov t has control of all the information, so they have to power. They re protecting the people from the real gov t, which is not as efficient. Personal contact is strained because you know that you are being watched.
People are worried to trust others that they meet.
America itself is divided into country-states. These have their own powers and rules. They are generally enforced by companies that get hired, such as Metacops. For instance, the couriers and the hackers. Then there are the pizza delivery men backed by Uncle Elmo and the Mafia.