Are Americans worried about the NSA?

Political Report
The NSA, Personal Privacy, and Civil Liberties
Recent reports that the National Security Agency has collected records of phone calls and Internet data to try to identify
possible terrorist threats have produced a flurry of polling activity. In the next several pages, we look at public reaction to the
program, its disclosure by former government contractor Edward Snowden, and at people’s concerns about their own privacy.
A separate section looks at trends on public concerns about civil liberties and how those have changed since the 9/11 attacks.
Most polls below show divisions over the administration’s data collection efforts, but concern remains high. They also
show that majorities believe the data gathering has helped to prevent terrorist attacks.
The NSA Program
Q: It’s been reported that the federal government’s National Security Agency collects extensive records of phone calls, as
well as Internet data related to specific investigations, to try to identify possible terrorist threats. Do you . . . ?
Strongly support the NSA
intelligence-gathering program 24%
Somewhat support 34
Somewhat oppose 14
Strongly oppose 25
Source: ABC/Washington Post, June 2013.
Q: As you may know, for the past few years the Obama administration has reportedly been gathering and analyzing
information on the phone calls of most Americans in an attempt to locate suspected terrorists. The government says it
has analyzed the phone numbers that were called but has not listened to those calls. Do you think . . . ?
The Obama administration was right
in gathering and analyzing those phone records 51%
Wrong 48
Note: In a 2006 question about the Bush’s administration’s actions in this regard, 54 percent said the administration was right and 39 percent
wrong.
Source: CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, June 2013.
Q: Overall, do you . . . ?
Personally approve of the federal government’s policy
of collecting phone dialing records, emails, and
Internet search records in an effort to prevent
terrorist attacks 48%
Disapprove 44
Source: Time/ABT–SRBI, June 2013.
Q: Overall, do you . . .?
————Response of————
National Rep. Dem. Ind.
Approve of the government’s collection of telephone
and Internet data as part of anti-terrorism efforts 48% 45% 58% 42%
Disapprove 47 51 38 53
Source: Pew Research Center/USA Today, June 2013.
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Q: There are reports that since April the National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone records of millions of
U.S. citizens, including numbers called when calls were made and how long calls lasted. If these reports are true, do you . . . ?
Find NSA actions an acceptable government
action to help prevent terrorism 32%
An unacceptable and alarming invasion of
privacy rights 62
Note: Sample is registered voters.
Source: Fox News, June 2013.
Has the Program Worked?
Q: What’s your impression, do you think the . . . ?
Government’s collection of telephone and Internet
data has helped prevent terrorist attacks 53%
Has not 41
Note: Forty-three percent of 18 to 29 year olds, 52 percent of 30 to 49 year olds, 60 percent of 50 to 64 year olds, and 53 percent of those 65
and older thought the collection of data has helped prevent terrorist attacks.
Q: Regardless of whether you approve or disapprove of this government surveillance program, do you think . . . ?
Such efforts have done a great deal/some
to protect the country from terrorist attacks 64%
Not much/nothing at all 31
Surveys on Snowden
The Edward Snowden story is still developing, but most polls show that people think he should be brought to justice in
this country.
Q: Do you think . . . ?
The U.S. government should attempt to bring
Snowden back to this country and prosecute
him for leaking that information 54%
Should not 42
The government should pursue a criminal case
against the person responsible for leaking the
classified information in the program 54%
Should not 38
AEI POLITICAL REPORT CONTRIBUTORS
Karlyn Bowman, Senior Fellow;
Norman Ornstein, Resident Scholar;
Michael Barone, Resident Fellow;
Henry Olsen, Vice President.
Research Assistants: Jennifer Marsico, Editor;
Andrew Rugg, Editor;
Interns: John Benjamin, Natalie Boyse,
Marshall Sanford
(continued on the next page)

Q: The NSA surveillance program was classified as secret, and was made public by a former government contractor
named Edward Snowden. Do you . . . ?
Support Snowden being charged with a crime
for disclosing the NSA surveillance program 43%
Oppose 48
Note: Forty-three percent of self-identified liberals, 45 percent of moderates, and 45 percent of conservatives supported charging Snowden.
Source: ABC/Washington Post, June 2013.
Q: Do you think the federal government should . . . ?
Prosecute government officials and others
who leak classified material that might
damage national security 53%
Should not prosecute leakers because the public
has a right to know about such programs 28
Note: In the next question in the poll, 54 percent said the person who leaked the information about this secret program did a good thing and
30 percent a bad thing.
Q: As you may know, news organizations found out about this program through the leak of classified information. Do
you think . . . ?
This classified information serves the public interest 49%
Harms the public interest 44
Note: During the 2010 Wikileaks disclosures, 29 percent thought those leaks served the public interest, while 53 percent said the leaks harmed
the public interest.
Perspectives on Personal Privacy
In a survey taken before the revelations about the NSA, 90 percent told Allstate/National Journal interviewers that they
had less privacy concerning their personal information than previous generations. Forty-three percent in another ques-
tion in the poll said they were generally comfortable with the amount of information about them that is being collected
and used, while 55 percent said they were concerned. In a more recent survey, 62 percent said they believed the govern-
ment had collected and stored information about them. Of that group, most thought the government had not analyzed or
paid much attention to it.
Q: Compared to previous generations, do you feel you . . . ?
Have more privacy when it comes
to your personal information 8%
Less privacy 90
Source: Allstate/National Journal, May–June 2013.
Q: Now thinking specifically about the amount and type of information about you that might be available from these
sources [described in the previous question as “public databases, transaction history, Internet usage, security cameras,
GPS, and other sources], are you . . . ?
Generally comfortable with the
amount of information about you
that can be collected and used 43%
Concerned 55

The U.S. government has not collected and
stored data about your personal phone calls 34%
Has collected and stored data 62
The government is currently using that
data to investigate you 8%
This data is stored somewhere but
the government has not analyzed
or paid much attention to it 51
Q: How much control do you feel you have . . . ?
Have a great deal of control over what type of
information about you is collected and used
by businesses, government, individuals, and
other groups 5%
Some 29
Not very much 37
None at all 28
Note: In a follow-up question, 39 percent said they had a great deal or some control when it comes to being able to fix incorrect information
about themselves; 59 percent said not very much or none at all.
Q: If you knew that the federal government had computerized logs of your telephone calls and Internet communica-
tions stored in a database that it uses to track terrorist activity, how concerned . . . ?
Would be very concerned that
your privacy rights had been violated 35%
Somewhat 22
Not too 21
Not at all 21
Source: Gallup, June 2013.
Q: Here are some increased powers of investigation that law enforcement agencies might use when dealing with
people suspected of terrorist activity which would also affect our civil liberties. For each please say if you would . . .
Favor Oppose
81% Expanded camera surveillance 18%
on streets and in public places
79 Use of facial-recognition technology 17
to scan for suspected terrorists at
various locations and public events
55 Law enforcement monitoring of 42
Internet discussions in chat rooms
and other forums
38 Expanded government monitoring 59
of cell phone and email, to
intercept communications
Source: CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation, April 2013.

Q: And thinking about yourself, do you think . . . ?
The U.S. government has probably collected data
about your personal phone calls, emails,
or other online communications 54%
Probably has not 39
Note: In a follow-up question, 63 percent said they would feel their personal privacy had been violated if they knew the federal government
had collected data about their telephone or Internet activity, and 36 percent would not.
Q: How concerned are you about information on each of the following being used by businesses, government, individuals,
and other groups without your consent?
Very concerned about this information being used
Identifiable information like your Social Security
number and home address 74%
Information about your children 64
Your personal financial activity 57
Your communications history, like phone calls,
emails, and Internet use 48
Your personal health information 46
Personal pictures of yourself and family 44
Your location and travel activity 36
Your political preferences and activities 29
Your shopping and purchasing history 28
Obama on Terrorism and Surveillance
Q: Do you . . . ?
Note: Asked of registered voters.
Source: Fox News, latest that of June 2013.
Q: Do you . . . ?
Approve of how
Barack Obama is
handling the govern-
ment’s classified
surveillance pro-
gram that collects
the phone and
Internet records
of the U.S. citizens 32%
Disapprove 61
Note: Asked of registered voters.
52%
41%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Feb-
2010
Jun-
2010
Oct-
2010
Feb-
2011
Jun-
2011
Oct-
2011
Feb-
2012
Jun-
2012
Oct-
2012
Feb-
2013
Jun-
2013
Approve of the job Barack Obama
is doing on the issue of terrorism
Disapprove

Civil Liberties: What the Data Show
Immediately after 9/11, as the trend below shows, majorities of Americans told the pollsters that it would be necessary
for the average person to give up some civil liberties in order to curb terrorism. As we have gotten further away from that
extraordinary time, attitudes
have shifted substantially
towards prioritizing civil liber-
ties. The same change over time
toward greater concern about
civil liberties is shown by the
questions below about the Bush
administration and now the
Obama administration’s actions.
Right after 9/11, only 10 percent
said its actions had gone too far.
In 2006, 39 percent said they
had gone too far. This June, 43
percent gave that response.
Q: In order to curb terrorism in
this country, do you think. . . ?
Sources: Los Angeles Times, Pew,
and Newsweek, latest that of
September 2010.
————————————Bush administration has————————————
Gone too far in restricting
people’s civil liberties in
order to fight terrorism About right Not far enough
November 2001 10% 60% 26%
October 2006 39 34 25
————————————Obama administration has————————————
June 2013 43 38 17
Note: Not all askings shown.
Source: CNN/USA Today/Gallup, 2001 and 2006; CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, 2013.
Q: Do you think that the government . . . ?
Is striking the right balance between
preventing terrorism and protecting
the privacy of American citizens 28%
Should be doing more to prevent
terrorism, even if it means giving
up more of your privacy 20
Should be cutting back on such
programs that threaten privacy 43
Q: What do you think is more important right now . . . ?
More important for the federal government
to investigate possible terrorist threats,
even if that intrudes on personal privacy 62%
More important for the federal government
not to intrude on personal privacy, even if
that limits its ability to investigate possible
terrorist threats 34
Source: Pew Research Center/Washington Post, June 2013.
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Will not be necessary for the average person
to give up some civil liberties
54%
40%
It will be necessary

Immigration and Immigration Reform
With Congress currently debating immigration reform, pollsters have conducted several new surveys on the issue. The
results show that border security remains a higher priority for most Americans than creating a path to citizenship for ille-
gal immigrants currently in the country. However, most people support a pathway with certain qualifications (a waiting
period, payment of back taxes, a criminal background check, etc) and most would prefer to implement a pathway while
the border is being secured, not afterward. Polls on the impact of such a policy reveal mixed opinions. For example, people
think legal status would be good for the economy while also taking jobs away from Americans.
Assessments of the Current Situation
Q: Thinking about your daily life, do you . . . ?
Yes, have personal contact with any recent
immigrants who you know for a fact, or who
you suspect, are in the United States illegally 30%
No 69
Policy Views
Q: What should be the main focus of the U.S. government in dealing with immigration policy?
Main focus should be
Creating a path to citizenship for many immigrants
who are in this country without permission from
the U.S. government 36%
Increasing border security to reduce or eliminate the
number of immigrants coming into this country
without permission from the U.S. government 62
——————Response of——————
National Rep. Dem. Ind.
Illegal immigrants currently in the U.S. should be
allowed to obtain legal status only after the
border is secure 35% 49% 25% 33%
They should be allowed to obtain legal status while
border security is still being strengthened 56 43 66 56
Source: CBS/New York Times, April 2013.
Q: Just your best guess . . . compared to ten years ago,
do you . . . ?
Think the number of immigrants entering
the U.S. illegally today is higher
compared to ten years ago 55%
Lower 15
About the same 27
Q: Based on what you know . . . ?
The nation’s borders today are very secure 7%
Somewhat secure 41
Not too secure 28
Not at all secure 22
Source: United Technologies/National Journal, June 2013.

Q: Suppose that on Election Day you could vote on key issues as well as candidates. Would you vote for a law that
would . . . ?
Vote for a law to
Allow illegal immigrants living in the U.S.
the opportunity to become citizens after
a long waiting period if they paid taxes
and a penalty, pass a criminal back-
ground check, and learn English 87%
Require U.S. business owners to check the
immigration status of any employees they hire,
with stiff fines and penalties for employers
who knowingly hire unauthorized workers 77
Allow employers to hire immigrants if it can be
demonstrated that they were unsuccessful in
recruiting an American to fill an open position 55
Vary the number of lower-skilled immigrants
allowed to enter the country depending
on how the U.S. economy is doing 53
Source: Gallup, June 2013.
The Impact of Immigration Reform
Q: Next, I’m going to read you some statements about undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. Please tell me
whether you agree or disagree with each statement.
Somewhat Somewhat Strongly
Strongly agree agree disagree disagree
It would be better for the economy
for undocumented immigrants to
gain legal status and become legal 44% 32% 10% 13%
workers
Granting undocumented immigrants
legal status would encourage more 38 26 19 15
people to come here illegally
legal status would be a drain on 36 24 21 16
government services
legal status would take jobs away 29 22 24 24
from U.S. citizens
Would reward illegal behavior
28 26 20 23
Q: If the 11 million illegal residents currently in the United States become citizens or legal residents, do you think . . . ?
Illegal immigrants becoming citizens
will help the economy 50%
Will hurt the economy 40
Note: Sample is registered voters.
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 20 40 60 80 1000 20 40 60 80 100

Political Impact
Q: Do you . . . ?
Pew Time/AbT Gallup CBS /NYT Fox
Approve/Favor Obama’s handling
of immigration/immigration policy 43% 44% 40% 39% 39%
Disapprove/Oppose 47 45 55 49 53
Note: Question wording varies. All questions asked in June 2013. Fox sample is registered voters.
Q: And what’s your impression if the Republican Party supported a way for undocumented immigrants to gain legal
status do you think . . . ?
Response of
National response Republicans
This would help the Republican Party’s
performance in national elections 37% 39%
Hurt the Republican Party’s performance 18 20
It wouldn’t make much difference 41 38
Q: If a candidate for Congress supports a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, would that make you . . . ?
More likely to vote for that candidate if
they support a path to citizenship for
illegal immigrants 26%
Less likely 24
No difference 44
Source: Quinnipiac, May 2013.
See you in September!
The editors of AEI’s Political Report
will not publish an August issue. We
welcome your suggestions about topics
you would like to see covered in future
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Are Americans worried about the NSA?

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Are Americans worried about the NSA?