[xp84]

Is a subpoena of 5 specific users' data, presumably with the purpose of getting evidence about things that already happened, the same as 'surveillance'?

> the government read everything everyone wrote/texted/read

is this really a relevant analogy for this? And yes, I've heard of the mass surveillance via telco that we did find out (through Snowden) was happening, and do think it seriously crossed the line. I'm just wondering if this kind of case at issue has anything in common with that malfeasance at all.

Is it your belief that they lacked any probable cause and are actually trying to persecute those 5 people for some reason?

Rather than try to argue against a position I'm not fully understanding, I'd like to hear how you think police should solve crimes with a significant "cyber" component.

[M3L0NM4N]

To be clear, I'm not advocating for it. But if people couldn't use the internet/communications to plan or communicate criminal activities, crime would reduce (to some degree, meaningful or not).