I can't believe that anyone that was around here during the snowden stuff hitting the fan would even remotely say metadata isn't useful.

"Law enforcement agencies have claimed that metadata helps to eliminate suspects by revealing their networks and contacts. But there is no information regarding the use of metadata by government bodies that are not officially enforcement agencies within the meaning of the data retention laws."

https://theconversation.com/think-your-metadata-is-only-visi...