Privacy act of 1974, the US government is prohibited from storing many types of data about US citizens. The act does NOT prohibit it from purchasing business intelligence from data brokers. Without any announcement, a certain agency of the government purchased business intelligence about citizens from data brokers and enhanced national security. This act is considered ethical based on the utilitarianism. This act is considered ethical based on the perfect duty of the categorical imperative This act is considered ethical based on the front page of the newspaper test. Ethics is irrelevant because this is about the government.

Any action especially by the ruling powers, government or political class which regardless of the rule of law is aimed at engineering the social, economic and or political levers of any state to the end that it betters society as a whole would be considered Utilitarian.

Utilitarianism is simply a theory or philosophy which preaches and teaches the need for happiness or pleasure whilst condemning any action, policy, thought or law that stimulates harm and unhappiness.

According to the question, the Privacy Act of 1974 had debarred the acquisition of Intelligence especially for the purpose of transacting business. Sooner or later it purchased, through an entity, information about its citizens on the basis of the need for National Security.

The act of seeking the welfare of the state thus becomes permissible reason under an utilitarian government for it to break a protocol or an existing edict.

Cheers!