Worse than spying - manipulating politics and social cohesion. Many teens have died (example: pass out challenge), right-wing governments have almost been elected out of nowhere (Romania) and mentally ill people have been preyed upon heavily.

Adding to your comment: Lithium brines are extracted through drilled wells, it’s not always ore.

OpenVPN is the software that many VPN providers used to use, and still do. You can install it for your own endpoint. Wireguard is more popular these days.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests, and the teenagers were warned they could face jail terms.

They have had their trip cancelled and scared enough. What do you expect to happen?

It’s in the article.