[UCANSEE2]

Although the FBI under J Edgar was known to illegally spy upon and blackmail key government figures, the FBI has outdone its past horrors.

Back during JE Hoover's reign, it would have been financially impossible to do the kind of surveillance/intel gathering on anyone other than key government or criminal figures.

These days, most surveillance/intel gathering is all automated.

[UCANSEE2]

(slight correction)

These days, most surveillance/intel gathering is ALMOST completely automated, and most of the data is freely provided by those being surveilled.