There are many situations where law enforcement is authorized (by law) to do something that would normally be illegal. For example here is some language from 1

There are many situations where law enforcement is authorized (by law) to do something that would normally be illegal. For example here is some language from 18 U.S. Code § 1030 - Fraud and related activity in connection with computers: > This section does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, or of an intelligence agency of the United States. I'm not sure if this is the relevant code for this Qakbot incident, I'm just trying to clarify that the law generally accepts that law enforcement officials get special dispensation from the regular requirements of the law in order to carry out their function or to protect the public.