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Makes one wonder, however, what other 'handshake deals' with autocratic government there are.

Yeah. I'm sure Russia is the only place where the telecom, tech and news sectors have quid pro quos with the organs of state.

The difference is that I have no control what Russia does with my information but I have some control over what my country is doing with it.

Do you really? The likelihood of legislation passing in the US is totally independent of how popular it is.