WASHINGTON, D.C. — Demand Progress Education Fund and FreedomWorks just released new polling conducted by YouGov of Americans from across the country about their perspective on government surveillance. Full polling results can be found here, and the polling questions here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM POLLING
Americans think privacy protections against warrantless government surveillance should be expanded
Question: Should Congress strengthen privacy protections for people in the U.S. against warrantless government surveillance of their communications, location information, and internet activity?
Responses:
Yes: 78% (627)
No: 9% (72)
Not sure: 13% (10)
Americans think warrants should be required before searches of their communications with people abroad
Question: Should government agencies be required to obtain warrants before intentionally searching international communications obtained without a warrant for conversations involving people in the U.S.?
Responses:
Yes: 76% (607)
No: 12% (96)
Not sure: 12% (97)
Americans think the government should need a warrant before purchasing data from data brokers
Question: Should Congress pass a law that requires government agencies to obtain warrants before purchasing location information, internet records, and other sensitive data about people in the U.S. from data brokers?
Responses:
Yes: 80% (636)
No: 10% (78)
Not sure: 11% (86)
Americans do not support enshrining new protections just for members of Congress, while leaving everyday Americans exposed
Also notable is that there was only one category of new privacy protections that most Americans did not support — and it is a key provision of the spy agencies’ proposal that is pending before Congress: A majority of those who express an opinion oppose language that would enact new privacy protections exclusively for members of Congress, without also protecting everyday Americans.
Question: Should members of Congress strengthen privacy protections for their personal information if they do not create equally strong protections for all people in the U.S.?
Responses:
Yes: 41% (330)
No: 45% (357)
Not sure: 14% (113)
Majorities are concerned about surveillance abuses targeting both the left and the right
Though we live in a political climate that is thought to be hyper partisan, Americans are concerned about surveillance abuses that have targeted activists from across the political spectrum — whether people protesting the murder of George Floyd or January 6th suspects.
Question: Would you be more likely to support or oppose a law requiring agencies to obtain a warrant before conducting the search if you knew government agencies had unlawfully searched for communications of people protesting the murder of George Floyd?
Responses:
More likely to support: 54% (432)
More likely to oppose: 18% (142)
No influence: 28% (226)
Question: Would you be more likely to support or oppose a law requiring agencies to obtain a warrant before conducting the search if you knew government agencies had unlawfully searched for communications of January 6 suspects?
Responses:
More likely to support: 54% (434)
More likely to oppose: 21% (170)
No influence: 25% (196)