[kortilla]

The laws are known a priori.

There are also no laws against exposing crimes by the government. You’re just not allowed to break other laws just because you’re doing so.

People very frequently successfully expose corruption and abuse by governments in the US. It just doesn’t make significant news unless it’s a major national politician, and that happens multiple times a year.

[immibis]

It is known a priori that the laws are so vague that everyone is breaking several. If the government chooses to find out which one you are breaking, you go to prison. If you expose crimes by the government, you may find yourself suddenly being investigated for something unrelated.

That's just the government interring whoever it doesn't like, with extra steps. Or making a law that says "we have to like you" with extra steps.

So again, what's the difference?

[kortilla]

No, the laws putting people in prison are not vague.

[immibis]

Sure they are. E.g. hate speech, antisemitism, threat to public order, threat to the integrity of the state. You know that Russian woman with the blank paper was also a threat to the integrity of the state.