Most of the "dragnet" surveillance technology and operations aren't being operated by the federal govt itself. The data is (usually) very eagerly handed over f

Most of the "dragnet" surveillance technology and operations aren't being operated by the federal govt itself. The data is (usually) very eagerly handed over from private company CSOs (or equivalent) to agents who ask very nicely in that meeting you weren't invited to that wasn't on the calendar. The cases you hear about with formal warrants etc are some non-existent-percentage of collection. Go look up the legal definition of "collection" "exploitation" etc... because it's not what you think it is. Collection "at scale" is only possible via the massive and growing privately owned surveillance capitalism systems. Just think of the infrastructure you have to RUN to be able to collect at scale. I can also tell you that if you can dream up a way to spy on people it's already being done at some level. [nb. SIGINT and IMINT are different stories so please don't tell me how most of the data we have is MASINT or some shit - citizens don't care about that data (and shouldn't)].