It is a basic police requirements on most countries. Hotels must collect visitor id's and keep it for several weeks.

I just tell them they can look at it but not copy it and that's satisfied them, for now. Sometimes had to get a manager in, but never had them deny me fully. I'm sure sooner or later I'll run into a stubborn one and have to scramble for a day-of replacement hotel, and that just adds to my list of reasons to avoid travel.

And why are politicians immune to all of this shit??

Why can’t WE spy on them 24/7?