[ConcernedCitizen]

You think that the gov might take down sites that reference SE or refunding? It's a pretty shady topic as well but doesnt mess with the gov.

Social engineering in and of itself isn't illegal. One example of benign SE is: you go to a bar and pick up a girl under a pretext. It becomes illegal when you use it to commit fraud or identity theft. It is also possibly very damaging to companies and their leadership and among their employees, so it's usually not included in many physical pentests. But talking about it is not illegal. It's a highly regarded subject and has evolved over time because of its profitability and efficacy.