A
new poll by Pew and USA Today shows that 53 percent of
Americans disapprove of the NSA’s collection of Internet and phone
metadata. The poll also found that a clear majority of respondents
who said that they had heard “a lot” or a “a little” about
President Obama’s NSA reforms do not think that the changes will
make any difference to privacy protections or how difficult it is
to fight terrorism.
Disapproval of the NSA’s collection of Internet and phone
metadata has increased among all of the demographic groups measured
in the poll. No matter the age, sex, educational level, race, or
political affiliation, all have increased their disapproval of the
NSA’s metadata collection program since June 2013.
The NSA’s controversial collection of Internet and phone
metadata has more support today, as it did in June 2013, among
Democrats than among Republicans or Independents. This month, 46
percent of Democrats approve of the metadata collection program,
while only 37 percent of Republicans and 38 percent of Independents
do. However, Democrats have shifted their opinion more than
Republicans and Independents between June 2013 and this month.
While approval of NSA metadata collection fell by 8 and 4 percent
among Republicans and Independents respectively, among Democrats
approval dropped 12 percent.
Chart from Pew below:
Although more than half of Republicans may disapprove of the
NSA’s metadata collection, Pew notes that there is a divide within
the GOP on the issue:
There continues to be a substantial divide within the Republican
base: Republicans and Republican leaners who agree with the Tea
Party are overwhelmingly opposed to the NSA program, while those
who do not identify with the Tea Party are more divided.
This difference within the GOP is perhaps best highlighted by
the differences between Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), one of the NSA’s
staunchest defenders, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who
is leading a suit against the NSA over its surveillance
activities.
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