Because it wasn't in the US, and the specifics don't really matter. All countries I've lived in so far has had similar capabilities for sure, and practiced them too.
the point is, this isn't the action of local authorities. this is state level activity. if it is local, that's a level of sophistication and corruption that I have ever been aware.
Just for context in many smaller countries outside the US there isn't that much of a "local" thing like there is in the US, I.e. the national authorities may handle a lot of stuff that may be done by the local authorities in the US
That's OK and fair I think, even as a European. HN is fairly US-centric, both submissions, users and comments. I think after more than a decade here, you get to used to everyone assuming you're American and capitalist by default, which given the company who owns HN, kind of makes sense ;)
By "law enforcement", I'd assume the feds and not local. Why not just say which agency? Wouldn't this pretty much be FBI? Why use such a generic term?