CHAPTER 2: PRIVACY
environment, history and development has a significant effect on their desire or
otherwise for privacy,48 and that attitudes to privacy are highly contextual.49
2.27.
In relation to privacy as against the state or public authorities:
(a)
Public opinion tends to be more supportive of the use of data where there are
tangible public benefits.50 A TNS BMRB poll in 2014 showed that:
most people (71%) “prioritise reducing the threat posed by terrorists and
serious criminals even if this erodes peoples’ right to privacy”;
66% think that British security and intelligence agencies should be
allowed to access and store the internet communications of criminals or
terrorists;
64% back them in carrying out this activity by monitoring the
communications of the public at large; and that
whereas 60% were very or fairly concerned about social media websites
such as Facebook monitoring and collecting information about their
online activity, and 55% had the same concerns about search engines
such as Google, only 46% and 43% had the same concerns about the
US and UK Governments respectively.51
Further research shows that people see one of the benefits of surveillance as
enabling the government to protect them against crime, including terrorism.52
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55
(b)
Research by YouGov in 2013 showed that 49% of respondents agreed that the
UK Intelligence Services should be allowed in some circumstances to hack into
calls/emails/text messages of foreign citizens “with no questions asked”, as
against 27% who thought they should not. The equivalent figures for UK
citizens were 43% and 33%.53 Qualitative surveys have however shown
concern about being watched by “Big Brother”.54
(c)
Whilst surveys show that the government is trusted more than commercial
companies,55 survey participants have expressed concern regarding the
See Nancy Marshall, “Privacy and Environment”, (1972) Human Ecology, Vol 1 No. 2, 92.
See Pew, Public Perceptions; Demos, which showed a greater concern regarding “personal information”
than “behavioural data”; Eurobarometer, which showed particular concern for financial, medical and
national identity number information compared to photos, social networks, websites and tastes and
personal opinions; and Wellcome Trust, which highlighted a number of distinguishing factors, including
the degree of risk if it is misused/stolen, the level of security attached to the data, whether it was
anonymous or personally identifiable data, the value of the data, whether it was extracted by free choice
or compulsion and whether the collector is governmental or private.
TNS-BMRB.
TNS-BMRB.
Wellcome Trust.
YouGov.
See the Wellcome Trust.
See 2.27(a) above, last bullet point, and Ipsos MORI: ESRC/ONS; Deloitte; Eurobarometer. Within the
US government at least, there may also be some differentiation; see Executive Office of the President,
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