Many voices equate 1)the installation of malware that makes the collection of information possible and 2)the actual collection of information. Likewise, 2)the collection of information is equated with 3)processing that information to obtain information of interest are equated. Furthermore 3)processing that information to obtain information of interest is equated with 4)using the information of interest to take action (prosecute or drone strike, for example). Since equality is transitive, this kind of thinking equates 1)the installation of malware that makes the collection of information possible and 4)using the information of interest to take action (prosecute or drone strike, for example). Granted that the situation is a slippery slope, but there is a difference between 1,2,3,and 4.