Doing anything against the current government is illegal in every country and always has been.
>A democratic society not subject to tight control seemingly is a very scary thing. Even more so when it is your own.
"Who watches the watchmen". Most of our western democracies are lacking checks and bounds. We can only vote who represents us, but we can't vote for what they do when in power. If we disagree with them we have to wait ~4 more years before we can vote them out.
Presidential elections are one among many elections. And elections are one component of democracy. The NRA is a potent example of grassroots power enforcing its policy views effectively and continuously.
If there is an issue you care about, find like-minded people and see how they organise. If they don’t, organise them.
The spin of the story has it, it was all about "spying against illegal activity". While really all that spying is just part of the objective to actively influence states. Not only passively observing your neighbors under the shower. Particularly civil societies. Of "allies" at first, but conveniently, you have five eyes, looking at each other.
You don't in all seriousness spy on foreign leaders to "uncover child trafficking" or manipulate YT to "counter terrorism". Foiled plots are few and far between. Mass media manipulation and economic exploitation persist and are commonplace.
A democratic society not subject to tight control seemingly is a very scary thing. Even more so when it is your own.