what happens if you make facial recognition illegal but NSA or other government agencies still use it? How would you punish them? Change the director? Fire employees? Fine them or money cuts?
It is very common in the United States for Congress to pass laws, but exempt themselves.
Example 1: I have read that OSHA rules don't apply to Congress.
Example 2: Political ads are exempted from the Do Not Call rules.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_Human_Intelligence_Sour...
no
only if an officer looks at the data a warrant is required, as long as only automatons process it, the rules do not apply
U.S. court: Mass surveillance program exposed by Snowden was illegal (reuters.com)
A big problem I'm noticing everywhere is that, while we have access to all of this information on how the government works, no one exercises their access to that information before commenting on internet forums and spreading misinformation and doubt about our DEMOCRATIC institutions. Even if you don't elect the person who heads these agencies, you do elect the person who appoints those heads.
wut
Do you know what the NSA does? Maybe look it up...
Yes, if someone in a trusted position of authority is caught doing something illegal they should be removed from that position and then charged with what ever crime it was they committed. Just like you and I would have done to us. Why is that even a question on your part?
I think the parent isn't actually questioning that someone in authority should or should not have the same repercussions, but rather rhetorically calling out, as you explicitly did, they often are held to a lower standard.