[beart]

You are assuming these people were just following procedure. This is not accurate. There is at least one case where data was taken and intended to be improperly used at a private company.

These people are more than useful rubes. They actively committed unethical (if not illegal) acts.

[krapp]

They were following the procedure they were ordered to follow. They were doing exactly what they were meant to be doing.

And a lot of people on HN were enthusiastically supportive of what they were doing. Even the illegal stuff. Especially the illegal stuff. Odd how back then DOGE were "bold, brilliant patriots doing what was necessary to cut government waste and drain the swamp" and now they're innocent naive babes who were just in over their heads.