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FC: Americans nervous about Fed surveillance, want it anwyay
From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 01:24:51 -0500
--- From: "Robert Vinet, The Privacy Manager" <Robert () ThePrivacyManager com> To: <declan () well com>Subject: American Public Continues to Endorse a Broad Range of Proposals for Stronger Surveillance Powers
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 12:27:51 -0400 Declan, Thought you and your readers might be interested in this press release from Harris Interactive. Robert -------------------------------------------------- Robert Vinet Publisher, The Privacy Manager http://www.ThePrivacyManager.com FREE Privacy News at http://www.ThePrivacyManager.com/privacynews.htm -------------------------------------------------- Homeland Security: American Public Continues to Endorse a Broad Range of Proposals for Stronger Surveillance Powers, but Support Is Somewhat Declined, According to Harris Interactive Survey ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Large majorities of the public, aware that it would affect their civil liberties, continue to favor giving law enforcement agencies stronger powers, which they might use when dealing with people suspected of terrorist activities. However, these majorities have declined modestly since we last asked questions in March last year, and have declined further since September 2001 (right after September 11). In spite of the (relatively small) declines in public support, the survey results show that there is still a broad consensus in favor of giving law enforcement tougher powers. It seems likely that the modest erosion is a result of time passing, lessening the immediate horror felt on 9/11. There is no suggestion in these data of any negative reactions to the expanded surveillance power which the FBI and other agencies have already been given. These are some of the results of The Harris Poll(R), a nationwide study conducted by Harris Interactive of 1,010 adults surveyed by telephone between February 12 and 16, 2003. Respondents rated each of ten different types of surveillance as follows: * Stronger document and physical security checks for travelers: supported by 84%, compared to 89% last year and 93% in September 2001. * Stronger document and physical security checks for access to government and private offices: supported by 82%, down from 89% last year and 92% in 2001. * Expanded under-cover activities to penetrate groups under suspicion: favored by 81%, compared to 88% last year and 93% in 2001. * Use of facial recognition technology to scan for suspected terrorists at various locations and public events: favored by 77%, compared to 81% last year and 86% in 2001. * Issuance of a secure I.D. technique for persons to access government and business computer systems, to avoid disruption: favored by 75%, down slightly from 78% in 2002 and 84% in 2001. * Closer monitoring of banking and credit card transactions to trace funding sources: favored by 67%, down from 72% last year and 81% in 2001. Four other proposals never enjoyed as much support as those already mentioned (after 9/11 they were favored by between 54% and 68%). The first two, however, appear to be almost as important to people now (as war seems imminent) as they were immediately following the crisis on September 11, 2001. These are: * Adoption of a national I.D. system for all U.S. citizens: favored by 64% now, interestingly up from last year (59%) bringing it very close to the level that it was after September 11, 2001 (68%). * Expanded camera surveillance on streets and in public places: now favored by 61%, by 58% last year, and favored by 63% in 2001, nearly the same as this year. The next two are no less popular than they were a year ago, but they receive less support now than they did immediately after attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon: * Law enforcement monitoring of Internet discussions in chat rooms and other forums: now favored by 54%, 55% last year, down from 63% in 2001. * Expanded government monitoring of cell phones and email, to intercept communications: virtually unchanged since last year, favored by only 44% and opposed by 53%. In September 2001, it was favored by a 54% to 41% majority. Another indication that strong law enforcement in pursuit of potential terrorists continues to enjoy strong support is that three out of every four adults (74%) continue to feel at least somewhat confident that "U.S. law enforcement will use its expanded surveillance powers in ... a proper way." Only 23% (who are not very or not at all confident) seem to be concerned about potential abuses of these surveillance powers. These questions were developed with Dr. Alan Westin, the well-known expert on privacy issues. In reviewing these numbers, Dr. Westin said, "The finding that one-quarter (23%) of the public does not believe government will use its new powers properly parallels Harris Interactive surveys showing that about one quarter of U.S. adults believe they personally have been the victim of a privacy invasion. They also indicate that a similar one-quarter adopts a very high, or "Privacy Fundamentalist," orientation on consumer privacy issues. This shows that the 75% to 25% split on new government anti-terrorist powers is not unique to the 9/11 situation but is directly in line with overall American privacy attitudes today." TABLE 1 FAVOR/OPPOSE TEN PROPOSALS FOR INCREASED LAW ENFORCEMENT POWERS "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 or oppose it." Base: All Adults % Favor Oppose Not sure/ Decline to Answer Stronger document and physical security checks for travelers Feb. 2003 % 84 14 1 Mar. 2002 % 89 9 2 Sept. 2001 % 93 6 1 Stronger document and physical security checks for access to government and private office buildings Feb. 2003 % 82 15 2 Mar. 2002 % 89 10 1 Sept. 2001 % 92 7 1 Expanded under-cover activities to penetrate groups under suspicion Feb. 2003 % 81 17 2 Mar. 2002 % 88 10 2 Sept. 2001 % 93 5 1 Use of facial-recognition technology to scan for suspected terrorists at various locations and public events Feb. 2003 % 77 20 3 Mar. 2002 % 81 17 2 Sept. 2001 % 86 11 2 Issuance of a secure I.D. technique for persons to access government and business computer systems, to avoid disruptions Feb. 2003 % 75 21 4 Mar. 2002 % 78 16 6 Sept. 2001 % 84 11 4 Closer monitoring of banking and credit card transactions, to trace funding sources Feb. 2003 % 67 30 2 Mar. 2002 % 72 25 2 Sept. 2001 % 81 17 2 Adoption of a national I.D. system for all U.S. citizens Feb. 2003 % 64 31 5 Mar. 2002 % 59 37 5 Sept. 2001 % 68 28 4 Expanded camera surveillance on streets and in public places Feb. 2003 % 61 37 1 Mar. 2002 % 58 40 2 Sept. 2001 % 63 35 2 Law enforcement monitoring of Internet discussions in chat rooms and other forums Feb. 2003 % 54 42 4 Mar. 2002 % 55 41 4 Sept. 2001 % 63 32 5 Expanded government monitoring of cell phones and email, to intercept communications Feb. 2003 % 44 53 4 Mar. 2002 % 44 51 4 Sept. 2001 % 54 41 4 TABLE 2 CONFIDENCE THAT SURVEILLANCE POWERS IN PROPER WAY "Overall, how confident do you feel that U.S. law enforcement will use its expanded surveillance powers in what you would see as a proper way, under the circumstances of terrorist threats? Would you say very confident, somewhat confident, not very confident, not confident at all?" Base: All Adults Sept. March February 2001 2002 2003 % % % Very confident 34 12 22 Somewhat confident 53 61 52 Not very confident 8 17 14 Not confident at all 4 6 9 Not sure/Decline to answer 1 3 2 Methodology The Harris Poll(R) was conducted by telephone within the United States between February 12 and 16, 2003 among a nationwide cross section of 1,010 adults (ages 18+). Figures for age, sex, race, education, number of adults and number of voice/telephone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (non-response), question wording and question order, interviewer bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely voters). It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors. These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. About Harris Interactive(R) Harris Interactive (http://www.harrisinteractive.com ) is a worldwide market research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll(R), and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, U.S.A., Harris Interactive combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in predictive, custom and strategic research. The Company conducts international research through wholly owned subsidiaries -- London-based HI Europe (http://www.hieurope.com ) and Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan -- as well as through the Harris Interactive Global Network of local market- and opinion-research firms, and various U.S. offices. EOE M/F/D/V To become a member of the Harris Poll OnlineSM and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Like Politech? 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- FC: Americans nervous about Fed surveillance, want it anwyay Declan McCullagh (Mar 13)