I'm not sure how it's a positive feature at all, why should they be treated differently from the rest of us.
There are exemptions in English an European law about crime prevention but it's surprising that "slurp all the data" meets the prpotional test.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Harman#2009_wiretap.2FAIP...
Of course, sometimes it's just easier to poorly fabricate supposedly-intercepted communications, do the political damage, and then refuse to divulge any evidence citing either classification grounds or the absence of an investigation.
From a pragmatic point of view, it may have some utility. It's easier to fight surveillance when you're not being actively blackmailed by said surveillance.
The counterargument there is that it's also easier not to care about surveillance reform when you know you're insulated from the surveillance in the first place. Likely a false sense of security, though.