* Political Repression: The Soviet Union imposed communist regimes on Eastern European countries, which resulted in the suppression of political dissent, lack of freedom of speech and assembly, and the persecution of political opponents.
* Economic Stagnation: The centrally planned economies imposed by the Soviet Union led to economic stagnation, shortages of consumer goods, and low living standards.
* Social Control: The Soviet Union maintained tight control over society through secret police, censorship, and propaganda.
* Cultural Homogenization: The Soviet Union sought to suppress national identities and promote a uniform Soviet culture, leading to the loss of cultural diversity.
* Environmental Degradation: The rapid industrialization and lack of environmental regulations resulted in severe environmental pollution and degradation.
* Human Rights Violations: The Soviet occupation was characterized by numerous human rights violations, including mass deportations, forced labor camps, and extrajudicial killings.
However, one effect that is not directly related to the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe is the rise of the internet. The internet was developed in the United States in the late 1960s and its widespread adoption occurred in the 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union.