TORONTO – The majority of Americans say the data mining of telephone records by the National Security Agency (NSA) is an “acceptable” anti-terror measure.
A national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center and The Washington Post found 56 per cent of 1,004 people polled are okay with the monitoring compared to 41 per cent who say it’s unacceptable.
However, Americans are more closely divided when it comes to email and Internet monitoring to prevent a possible terrorist attack.
According to the survey, conducted June 6 through 9, 45 per cent said the NSA should be able to monitor online activity and 52 per cent are against it.
The same survey conducted in July 2002 found 47 per cent of Americans were against online monitoring.
Moreover, the majority of the public feels investigating a possible terrorist act trumps privacy. 62 per cent surveyed are in favour compared to 34 per cent.
Edward Snowden, 29, an employee of government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, leaked the classified surveillance program last week to The Guardian and The Washington Post.
The Obama administration has defended the broad U.S. spy program, saying it keeps America safe from terrorists.
Snowden fled to Hong Kong in hopes of escaping criminal charges as lawmakers, including Senate intelligence chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, accuse him of committing an “act of treason” that should be prosecuted.
–with a file from The Associated Press
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