Answer:
The correct answer is A
Explanation:
The action, looking through the paradigm of Utilitarianism would be considered ethical.
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!
Cheers!