[Cboldt]

Government will collect data to the extent technology permits. Legal barriers are academic until you are defendant in criminal court.

You call it abuse, the government calls it protecting the public.

Barr's inquiry goes to use of the government apparatus (keep in mind the attack on the election was a made-up accusation), in cooperation with the press, to turn an election. That's a narrow abuse. IOW, if the government want to get YOU, outside of election process, Barr isn't looking there.

As for FISA, it is not a restriction on government abuse, it enables government abuse and pays the players (the executive and the courts both) a bonus to perpetrate it.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I don't see how the way the government operates today is constitutional. Maybe the Founders would think that income taxes are not covered, but looks like the 4th amendment does not say "except for income tax returns."