I don't feel the intent has ever changed, just the tech. So, this should really be no surprise to anyone. Governments will continue to try and gain as much information as they can. We give up information for convenience. Credit cards, bus passes, points cards, whatever. Most of us carry a device that pinpoints our location.
The laws mean nothing. In every age, laws are to appease the masses but easily ignored for 'the greater good'. When an excuse can allow for more draconian laws to be made/changed with some public support, they will be. 9/11, McCathry's witch hunt, WW2 Japanese internment, on and on and on.
Privacy is a fallacy. Everything you buy, everywhere you go, everyone you talk to not face-to-face is logged somewhere.
For me the interesting thing is the outrage. That people believe that their government would never do such a thing. Like leaving a diary on a table and thinking no one would ever take a look.
At least in China, people are under no such delusion.
If it came out that the NSA was doing this to everyone in the world except Americans, would it have bothered Americans much?