Only in a limited way though, the NSA can decide (or at least exert considerable influence over) what's legal in the US - but criminal actions in, say, The Netherlands or any other (non five eyes) country, cannot be "justified" or "excused" legally by another except those countries.
I guess a _lot_ of what goes in in state sponsored espionage happens outside the civilian legal system - at least in "major" countries - but surely there's scope for a criminal trial and civil damages case against NSA/GHCQ operatives when their espionage involves widespread network exploitation and privacy violation of corporate networks and staff. Crimes which would _clearly_ be aggressively prosecuted if committed by Anonymous Skript Kiddies or criminal credit card fraud gangs. Why shouldn't NSA agents be held just as accountable in this case by non US legal systems? Sure, root the embassy network and expect to be held diplomatically responsible if you get caught. Private companies and citizens though? Go to jail just like anybody else.
I guess a _lot_ of what goes in in state sponsored espionage happens outside the civilian legal system - at least in "major" countries - but surely there's scope for a criminal trial and civil damages case against NSA/GHCQ operatives when their espionage involves widespread network exploitation and privacy violation of corporate networks and staff. Crimes which would _clearly_ be aggressively prosecuted if committed by Anonymous Skript Kiddies or criminal credit card fraud gangs. Why shouldn't NSA agents be held just as accountable in this case by non US legal systems? Sure, root the embassy network and expect to be held diplomatically responsible if you get caught. Private companies and citizens though? Go to jail just like anybody else.