Is it unreasonable to specifically collect information on non-citizens? Perhaps. Is it unexpected? I don't think so. Most current threats are currently perceived to originate from non-military, non-governmental entities if the media is to be believed. I would expect all countries for which I am not a citizen to compile an in-depth dossier of me at any opportunity they have, assuming their intentions and incentives align with any other country conducting the same activity.

Thing is, Italy is not a world power with dominance in information technologies and global ambitions.

Well, the USA should mind its own business and fuck off. Too harsh? Ops. You spy and start wars in others countries and expect it to be ok?

If you want a serious answer based on how things actually work, it's this: the US Government doesn't expect you to be ok with it. They're not asking your permission. They do not care if you dislike it. The goal is to have the upper-hand on specific types of information globally.

I know. But you can't expect countries and people to be ok with it, just because the USA wants it. In an ideal world there would be no boundaries or wars and we would live in peace. But fact is that I don't like being spied by NSA. And while this may be expected by a government, what pisses really off is the way HN, eff.org and USA-oriented blogs speak about non USA citizens. From their point of view we are either terrorists, non-humans or some kind of evil, deprived of all kind of rights.

From the point of view of democracy the USA is the worse.