US poll shows privacy takes a backseat to fighting terrorism

A new survey has revealed that most Americans are more concerned about security and defeating ISIS than they are about privacy rights. The Morning Consult poll highlighted that 71% of those surveyed want top firms such as Apple and Google to give law enforcement access to personal information. Furthermore, 76% want companies to actively assist law enforcement in terrorism-related investigations. Alongside this, 66% want these companies to turn over any information they have to the government to allow law enforcement to identify and monitor potential terrorists. The poll also revealed support for some of the ideas that Republican frontrunners Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have suggested, including a temporary ban on foreign Muslims from entering the US (50% supported this idea), while 49% supported increasing patrols of Muslim neighbourhoods.

Donovan Slack

USA TODAY

Most Americans are more concerned about security and defeating the Islamic State than they are about privacy rights, a new Morning Consult poll finds.

A whopping 71% of respondents said they supported requiring companies like Facebook, Apple and Google to give law enforcement access to their personal information. And 76% want those companies to assist in terror-related investigations. Two-thirds want them to turn over information so the government can identify and monitor potential terrorists.

Those numbers belie tech companies’ recent stances against providing such information after federal authorities asked Apple to help them get into an iPhone used by a San Bernardino shooter. The Department of Justice dropped its request Monday after finding another way to access the phone.

The Morning Consult poll, which surveyed voters in the days following the terror attacks in Brussels last week, also found half of Americans support temporarily banning foreign Muslim from entering the United States, a move espoused by Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

And 49% support stepped up patrols of Muslim neighborhoods, which Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has recommended.

The balance between privacy and security has become a flashpoint in recent months as Republican candidates have proposed more intrusive methods to thwart attacks.

Here are some other interesting findings from the poll:

• 78% support an added layer of security outside airports

• 75% support increasing funding for the Transportation Security Administration

• 84% support increased training for TSA agents

• 81% back increasing funding for background checks on airport workers

Morning Consult surveyed 2,071 registered voters March 24-26. The margin of error is 2 percentage points.

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