>>if they let someone non-governmental do the "collecting" of such information, then the FBI or CIA just purchased it and stored it, they would not be breaking the law.
>
>You might find this retraction by USA Today interesting.

Interesting. But the cynic in me says "contracted" is the out-word here. They could still be doing it in the absence of any "contract".

Corporations that depend on the government for their very existence, or may wish to have 'capital' in hand when the push for less regulation happens in earnest, and who everyone acknowledges have no morals are as trustworthy as tobacco executives.