CHAPTER 2: PRIVACY
the Snowden Documents brought home, can be achieved with far less effort and so
brings the potential (if not properly regulated) for spying on a truly industrial scale.
2.32.
2.33.
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Two US surveys by the Pew Research Center highlight the influence of the leaks:
(a)
In the 2014 study, most adults did not agree that it was a good thing for
government to “keep an eye” on internet activity, and adults who had heard
about government surveillance were more likely to think that internet oversight
by government has drawbacks.66 Overall, 80% of American adults agreed or
strongly agreed that Americans should be concerned about the government’s
monitoring of phone calls and internet communications, with just 18%
disagreeing or strongly disagreeing with that notion. According to the authors,
the survey confirmed the “clear trend” from support for collection of data as part
of anti-terrorism efforts to relative disapproval.67
(b)
In the 2015 study, over a third of those who had heard of surveillance programs
had taken at least one step to hide or shield their information from the US
Government, with a quarter changing their use “a great deal” or “somewhat”.
However (in apparent contrast to the earlier findings), only 52% were
“somewhat” or “very” concerned about US Government surveillance of
Americans’ data and electronic communications, as against 46% who were “not
very” or “not at all” concerned.68
Further research undertaken worldwide appeared to show that the Snowden
Documents have “damaged one major element of America’s global image: its
reputation for protecting individual liberties”.69 Older Americans were more likely than
younger Americans to find it acceptable to spy on citizens of other countries, though
Americans in general (perhaps unsurprisingly) were more likely to approve of US
government surveillance of foreign nationals than of US citizens. However, people in
other nations found NSA surveillance of foreign nationals to be more objectionable
than that of Americans.70 Indeed, 71% of respondents in a worldwide study, including
70% of those in Five Eyes countries,71 were strongly opposed to the US monitoring
their internet use (with 60% wanting tech companies to secure their communications
to prevent this).72
Pew, Public Perceptions. A majority of adults disagreed with the statement “it is a good thing for society
if people believe that someone is keeping an eye on the things that they do online”, including 20% who
strongly disagreed. 36% agreed with the statement, including 7% who strongly agreed. Just 23% of
adults who have heard “a lot” about the revelations in the Snowden Documents thought online
surveillance was good for society, compared with 46% of those who had heard less about the
revelations.
Pew, Public Perceptions.
Pew, Privacy Strategies.
Pew Research Center, “Global Opposition to US Surveillance and Drones”, (2014) (“Pew, Global
Opposition”). This reflected changes in attitude of both Americans themselves and the global public.
Pew, Global Opposition.
The US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand: see further 8.40-8.41 below.
Amnesty International, “Global opposition to USA big brother mass surveillance”, (2015) (“Amnesty”).
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