The idea that torture works is bedrock in the entertainment world, partially because it's a narrative shortcut and shows how far the "hero" is willing to go.
...and even for complete extremism, like pure terrorism.
Still, it's also true that the premise "the system and law enforcement don't work" is really the basis of all superhero narratives. That's how the need for the superheros is justified.
Unfortunately, in real life, "good" and "bad" aren't possible to define, nor are they absolute characteristics.
GP was just drawing the parallel, not implying a real connection.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normative_social_influence [2] https://www.uic.edu/labs/skitka/public_html/OppTorture.pdf
>"People [in Guantanamo] had already seen the first series, it was hugely popular." Others who were at Guantánamo at the time confirmed her account. Some described to me how the series contributed directly to an environment encouraging those in the interrogation facility to see themselves as being on the front line, and to go further than they otherwise might have
So torturers at Guantanamo had to get lessons on torture from a TV series which, prior to Season 4, was basically torture-free and pro-Muslim?
From Season 4, 24 was fascistic, pro-torture garbage, but it was taking its cue from real life US policy, not directing it.
Yes, in 24 and Zero Dark Thirty it's realistic -- a state military or intelligence agency using torture in a prescribed way. They would actually have received training about effective techniques for torturing people, which is pretty chilling in and of itself.
But you can also watch the 90s Batman cartoon, where Batman holds criminals off of roofs to get them to talk, or the X-men cartoon where Wolverine puts his claws up to someone's chin. It's not strictly "torture", but using fear (of death) to make someone talk is similar to using pain. The person will do whatever is required to end it, whether that involves being truthful or not.
Even worse, you have scenes where James Bond (or some hero) is tortured and doesn't talk. It creates the idea that someone who talks when being tortured is a traitor or is somehow weak. In reality, it's really rare to be able to withstand torture, and the US Dept of Defense doesn't even consider soldiers to have failed their country if they talk.