I don't know what the legality of the NSA buying private data is, but it feels like it violates the spirit of the law that says they shouldn't be spying on their citizens.
How is this relevant when the government is purchasing the data on the open market?
>but it feels like it violates the spirit of the law that says they shouldn't be spying on their citizens.
No, the spirit of the law is that the government can't use its monopoly on violence to gather evidence.
But that's not what was discussed. The comment I replied to was talking about "the spirit of the law", which is separate from what the law ought be today.
I don't think this is true. These guys are still around[0] even after garnering their bad reputation.