This sounds paranoid, etc., but it must just be stated

Every single US telecom works willingly with the US government to provide them literally any and all info they request for anyone at any time.

AT&T is effectively just a privatized part of the government and they also happen to own most of the “backbone” of the internet.

It’s just this giant jumble of public funds going to the private ISPs and then into the capitalist owner’s pockets. They cooperate because it’s profitable to work adjacent to “national security” stuff and because most people don’t know/care the extent that they “legally” spy on you.

So I just say, without paranoia or exaggeration, anything you say online can/will be used if you’re planning/doing illegal things. And none of the encrypted apps are gonna save your ass either including VPNs. Theoretically a lot of that can protect you, but even assuming it has no backdoors and is legitimately secure, people always make mistakes eventually.

In person, “meat space” discussions with no electronics nearby is the only effective way to eliminate the surveillance