It is legal to smoke. It is legal to go into a restaurant. However, it is not legal to go into a restaurant and smoke.
That's neither arbitrary nor ridiculous, it actually makes a lot of sense.
I will agree with you that often if not always, rules come with a background shady agenda behind them, such as this one being about mass surveillance.
But it is critically important to understand the purpose of things before disregarding them.
It is legal to smoke. It is legal to go into a restaurant. However, it is not legal to go into a restaurant and smoke.
That's neither arbitrary nor ridiculous, it actually makes a lot of sense.
I will agree with you that often if not always, rules come with a background shady agenda behind them, such as this one being about mass surveillance.
But it is critically important to understand the purpose of things before disregarding them.