CBS NEWS POLL For release: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 6:30 pm EDT

Americans Views on Privacy and Terrorism

June 9-10, 2013

In the wake of the recent disclosure of two classified U.S. surveillance programs, most Americans disapprove (58%) of the government collecting the phone records of ordinary Americans, but approve (75%) of its monitoring those suspected of terrorist activity. 53% think the governments collection of phone records is necessary to fight terrorism; 40% do not. Also, 60% do not think the public revelation of these programs has weakened the United States ability to prevent future terrorist attacks. Nearly six in 10 Americans express some concern generally about their privacy being lost, but fewer are worried that their own personal communications are being tracked. Overall, 46% think the government has struck the right balance in its efforts to fight terrorism, while 36% think the government has gone too far in infringing on peoples privacy. 13% say the government hasnt gone far enough. Most Americans (75%) approve of federal agencies collecting the phone records of people the government suspects of terrorist activity, but a 58% majority disapproves of this type of data collection in the case of ordinary Americans. Approve of Federal Government Collecting Phone Records of Approve Disapprove Ordinary Americans 38% 58 Americans suspected of terrorist activity 75% 20 Majorities of Republicans and independents oppose the government collecting phone records of ordinary Americans; Democrats are divided. Federal Government Collecting Phone Records of Ordinary Americans All Reps Dems Inds Approve 38% 33% 48% 34% Disapprove 58 66 48 62 When asked if the governments collection of Americans phone call records is a necessary tool to help find terrorists, a slight majority of 53% say it is. Is Government's Collection of Americans Phone Call Records Necessary to Find Terrorists? Yes, necessary 53% No, not necessary 40

There is broad support for the government monitoring the internet activities of those living in foreign countries. More than seven in 10 Americans approve of this practice and there is agreement on this across party lines. Federal Government Monitoring Internet Use of People Living in Foreign Countries Approve 72% Disapprove 23 A majority of Americans do not think the public revelation of the governments collection of phone records will compromise U.S. security. 60% say it will not have an impact or it will strengthen the United States ability to prevent future terrorist attacks, while 30% think the leaking of such information will weaken the countrys ability to prevent future terrorist attacks. Will Public Revelation of Data Collection Programs Weaken U.S. Ability to Prevent Terrorism? Total Reps Dems Ind Yes, will weaken 30% 30% 31% 29% No, no impact/strengthen 60 62 58 60 Privacy Concerns Most Americans show at least some concern about losing some of their privacy as a result of steps taken by the federal government to fight terrorism nearly six in 10 are at least somewhat concerned, including 28% who are very concerned. Democrats show less concern than either Republicans or independents. In Governments Efforts to Fight Terrorism, How Concerned Are You about Losing Some of Your Privacy? Total Reps Dems Ind Very 28% 33% 16% 33% Somewhat 31 29 38 28 Not very 20 23 21 17 Not at all 20 15 25 19 But fewer Americans are concerned about their own personal communications being monitored. Just over a third is at least somewhat concerned about the government collecting their own phone records and monitoring their internet use; six in 10 are not concerned. How Concerned Are You That the Government Might Be Collecting your Monitoring your phone records Internet use Very 19% 15% Somewhat 19 20 Not very 24 22 Not at all 38 38 Asked if the government has gone too far in infringing on peoples privacy in its efforts to fight terrorism, 46% think the balance is about right, but 36% say the government has gone too far. Just 13% think the government hasnt gone far enough. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say the government has gone too far.

Infringing on Peoples Privacy to Fight Terrorism: The Government Has Total Reps Dems Inds Gone too far 36% 42% 26% 39% Not gone far enough 13 12 16 11 Balance about right 46 41 54 43 69% of Americans are following the news about the revelation of the governments data collection programs at least somewhat closely, including 29% who are following it very closely. Americans who are paying very close attention to this story are more concerned that their own communications are being collected or monitored. Belief that a terror attack in the U.S. is likely within the next few months has dropped since the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings. Now 16% think such an attack is very likely, down from 24% in April. __________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone from June 9-10, 2013 among 1,015 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by Social Science Research Solutions of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

CBS News Poll Americans Views on Privacy and Terrorism June 9-10, 2013 q1. How likely do you think it is that there will be another terrorist attack in the United States within the next few months -- very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at all likely? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 16 19 11 18 36 50 31 31 29 23 37 27 13 7 15 15 6 2 6 9

Very likely Somewhat likely Not very likely Not at all likely Don't know/No answer

Apr13b % 24 42 26 5 3

q2. Overall, in its efforts to fight terrorism, do you think the US government has gone too far in infringing on peoples privacy, or has it not gone far enough, or has the balance been about right? Too far Not far enough About right Don't know/No answer q3. blank q4. How concerned are you about losing some of your privacy as a result of steps taken by the federal government to fight terrorism are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned? Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not very concerned Not at all concerned Don't know/No answer 28 31 20 20 1 33 29 23 15 1 16 38 21 25 * 33 28 17 19 2 36 13 46 5 42 12 41 4 26 16 54 4 39 11 43 7

q5. It was recently revealed that federal government agencies have been collecting records of phone calls and internet activity in their efforts to fight terrorism. How closely have you been following news about this - very closely, somewhat closely, not very closely, or not at all closely? Very closely Somewhat closely Not very closely Not at all closely Don't know/No answer 29 40 18 12 1 30 45 17 8 26 40 21 13 31 36 16 15 2

q6. In order to reduce the threat of terrorism, do you approve or disapprove of federal government agencies collecting phone records of ordinary Americans? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 38 33 48 34 58 66 48 62 3 1 4 4

Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer

q7. In order to reduce the threat of terrorism, do you approve or disapprove of federal government agencies collecting phone records of Americans that the government suspects of terrorist activity? Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer 75 20 5 72 24 4 81 15 4 73 21 6

q8. In order to reduce the threat of terrorism, do you approve or disapprove of federal government agencies monitoring the internet activities of people living in foreign countries? Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer 72 23 6 78 17 6 72 23 5 68 26 7

q9. How concerned are you, personally, that the government might be collecting your phone call records--are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned? Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not very concerned Not at all concerned Don't know/No answer 19 19 24 38 * 21 18 24 37 13 20 24 43 1 22 19 24 35 1

q10. How concerned are you, personally, that the government might be monitoring your internet activities, such as the web sites you visit and the email you send--are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned? Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not very concerned Not at all concerned Dont use the Internet Don't know/No answer 15 20 22 38 5 * 21 20 18 36 6 * 9 17 24 44 6 * 16 22 23 34 4 1

q11. Do you think the government's collection of Americans phone call records is a necessary tool to help find terrorists, or do you think it is NOT necessary? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 53 49 60 51 40 43 33 43 7 9 7 6

Necessary tool Not necessary Don't know/No answer

q12. Do you think the fact that the program of collecting phone and internet records has been made public will weaken the United States ability to prevent future terrorist attacks, or will this have no impact on the United States ability to prevent future terrorist attacks? Will weaken U.S.s ability No impact Will strengthen (vol.) Don't know/No answer 30 57 3 10 30 60 2 8 31 54 4 11 29 56 4 11

Total Respondents Total Republicans Total Democrats Total Independents

Unweighted 1015 224 350 441

Weighted

263 323 429

(26%) (32%) (42%)