I agree with you in general, but regarding this specific phrase in this specific context:

> Governments took advantage of the extreme fear created after the 9/11 attacks to pass these absurd laws.

Unless I misunderstand the legislative history, the law that was used here (Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000) dates from July 2000, so before 9/11.

Still part of the same trend as what happened after 9/11, of course, but we shouldn’t pretend 9/11 was the beginning of this, especially not in the UK.