“Collecting is probably within the law.”
Stalking without probable cause.
“The garbage man picks up plenty of info twice a week.”
I don’t believe they collect it, organize it by name, find out who your connections are, look at credit card receipts for everything you spend money on, collect all your pictures, etc. They pick up trash and bury it.
If I was running an organization they would not be burying it LOL
Nor would Sherlock Holmes.
If you use Credit cards or debit they know where and when you bought what.
I think they can probably track cash with RFID at Points of withdrawal and sales.
You could fill in the gaps on personal transactions by noting where the money went off the trail and where it emerged.
The more off radar transactions, the more difficult it would be to fill the gaps.
All this stuff has always got on.
Until I see proof that this was done without judicial approval, there is nothing here to see.
I KNOW for FACT that Snowden broke espionage laws.