Americans love their privacy. But they love their safety even more, a Harris Poll finds. A solid majority are at least moderately in the “safety first” camp.
This is bad, bad news for civil libertarians.
Despite everything we all now know about National Security Agency surveillance practices, commercial online tracking and other forms of snooping, most Americans, when given the choice, would choose safety over privacy, a new Harris Poll finds.
When asked to choose which of four broad statements about safety vs. privacy most closely fits their beliefs, 51 percent of those surveyed chose “Americans' safety is more important than their privacy, but both should be considered in cases where they conflict” and 10 percent chose “Americans' safety is sacred, and should be maintained no matter what.”
Those results mean a solid majority are at least moderately in the “safety first” camp.
Only 25 percent of the Harris sample chose the statement that said “Americans' privacy is more important than their safety, but both should be considered in cases where they conflict,” while 13 percent chose “Americans' privacy is sacred, and should be maintained no matter what.”
As for where we should have privacy: 87 percent of those surveyed recognize that we have a right to privacy in our homes overall. Similar majorities feel the same way about privacy rights related to bodies (85 percent) and our bedrooms (82 percent). Sixty-one percent said they believe our cars also are subject to the right to privacy.
Fewer people felt that privacy rights apply when they are a guest in a home (47 percent) or a passenger in a car (46 percent). Five percent said they don’t feel Americans have a right to privacy regardless of where they are.
The survey also found a willingness to give up privacy rights in the name of safety:
Majorities of Americans feel that reasonable suspicion of a danger to public welfare justifies searching a student's locker (59 percent), personal effects such as a backpack or purse (56 percent), a vehicle in its entirety (55 percent) or specific parts of a vehicle (53 percent). Reasonable suspicion that something illegal will be found is seen by a majority of Americans as justifying searching a student's locker (55 percent).
As for what constitutes “reasonable suspicions,” opinions vary:
When presented with several situations and asked which constitute "reasonable suspicion" grounds for a legal search, responses varied greatly, with some grounds passing muster and others falling well short. Seven in ten U.S. adults (70 percent) see a sworn statement as passing the reasonable suspicion test, while nearly two-thirds say the same of erratic driving (65 percent) and six in ten say past conviction for a violent crime provides reasonable suspicion grounds (61 percent). Slimmer majorities say the same of evasive behavior (56 percent), records indicating contact with a criminal suspect (53 percent), and a past conviction for a drug-related crime (52 percent).
All if the results, including data tables,
are available here.
This post originally appeared at Wonky News Nerd.