USA Today poll shows majority disapprove of NSA eavesdropping
51% oppose NSA database
Updated 5/14/2006 8:20 PM ET
By Susan Page, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The majority of Americans disapprove of a massive Pentagon database containing the records of billions of phone calls made by ordinary citizens, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. About two-thirds are concerned that the program may signal other, not-yet-disclosed intelligence efforts directed at the general public.
The survey of 809 adults taken Friday and Saturday shows a nation that continues to wrestle with the balance between fighting terrorism and maintaining civil liberties.
By 51%-43%, those polled disapprove of the program, disclosed Thursday in USA TODAY. The National Security Agency has been collecting phone records from three of the nation's four largest telecommunication companies since soon after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Most who approve of the program say it violates some civil liberties but is acceptable because investigating terrorism "is the more important goal."
"The combating-terrorism issue still has resonance with the American public," says political scientist Richard Eichenberg of Tufts University. "But the public's tolerance for this sort of invasion of privacy may be topping out. It may be people are starting to say, 'When is the other shoe going to drop? What else are they doing?' "
About two-thirds say they're concerned that the government might also be gathering other information on the public, such as bank records and Internet usage, or listening in on domestic phone conversations without obtaining a warrant.
Two-thirds are concerned the phone database will misidentify innocent Americans as possible terrorist suspects.
(There is more, here.)
Updated 5/14/2006 8:20 PM ET
By Susan Page, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The majority of Americans disapprove of a massive Pentagon database containing the records of billions of phone calls made by ordinary citizens, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. About two-thirds are concerned that the program may signal other, not-yet-disclosed intelligence efforts directed at the general public.
The survey of 809 adults taken Friday and Saturday shows a nation that continues to wrestle with the balance between fighting terrorism and maintaining civil liberties.
By 51%-43%, those polled disapprove of the program, disclosed Thursday in USA TODAY. The National Security Agency has been collecting phone records from three of the nation's four largest telecommunication companies since soon after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Most who approve of the program say it violates some civil liberties but is acceptable because investigating terrorism "is the more important goal."
"The combating-terrorism issue still has resonance with the American public," says political scientist Richard Eichenberg of Tufts University. "But the public's tolerance for this sort of invasion of privacy may be topping out. It may be people are starting to say, 'When is the other shoe going to drop? What else are they doing?' "
About two-thirds say they're concerned that the government might also be gathering other information on the public, such as bank records and Internet usage, or listening in on domestic phone conversations without obtaining a warrant.
Two-thirds are concerned the phone database will misidentify innocent Americans as possible terrorist suspects.
(There is more, here.)
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