Ed: > Outside of the Rule of Law, people have been killed for metadata.

Indeed:

https://theintercept.com/2014/02/10/the-nsas-secret-role/

> According to a former drone operator for the military’s Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) who also worked with the NSA, the agency often identifies targets based on controversial metadata analysis and cell-phone tracking technologies. Rather than confirming a target’s identity with operatives or informants on the ground, the CIA or the U.S. military then orders a strike based on the activity and location of the mobile phone a person is believed to be using.

Thanks. Too lazy to search for specific examples.

Also, obviously, Mafias and the USSR, PRC...

That's actually pretty good policing. They should apply that domestically for non-terrorist violent criminals. +1 they have my vote. (Obviously not on the "drop random bombs on them" part.)