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Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for April 11, 2018
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
April 11, 2018: Fifty-three percent (53%) of American adults believe the federal government is engaged in widespread monitoring or spying on the activities of American citizens. According to the Monmouth University Polling Institute, another 29% believe such monitoring happens but is not widespread. Only 14% believe the government does not engage in such behavior.[1]
Just 18% believe such spying is usually justified. Twenty-eight percent (28%) say it is never justified. Just over half (53%) believe it is sometimes justified. On a more personal basis, 53% worry that the government is invading their privacy. That includes 23% who are very worried. When it comes to government invading their own privacy, 29% of conservatives are very worried. So are 17% of liberals. Moderates (21%) and liberals (19%) are somewhat more likely than conservatives (12%) to believe that government spying is usually justified.
These results come at a time when, according to The Hill, the Trump administration and other government officials are seeking to make it easier for the government to access personal data on encrypted smartphones. The Hill states that “the issue has long been a source of tension between law enforcement and the tech community.”[2]
Support among government officials for easier access to private data is widespread. In fact, even one of President Trump’s most public detractors—former FBI Director James Comey—agrees with the Trump administration on this topic. As I noted in Politics Has Failed: America Will Not, Comey “was outraged that Apple and Google served their customers by keeping their smartphone information private, but he acknowledged the public demand for such protection: ‘Encryption isn’t just a technical feature; it’s a marketing pitch.’”
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.
- April 10, 2018 – 13 percent decline in visitor visas issued during 2017
- April 9, 2018 – 2-minute exercise bouts might lead to healthier and longer life
- April 6, 2018 – 31 percent believe traditional media outlets regularly report “fake news”
- April 5, 2018 – 5 steps to improve regulatory decision-making
- April 4, 2018 – 50 years ago today, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated
- To see other recent numbers, check out the archive.
Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day is published by Ballotpedia weekdays at 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Click here to check out the latest update.
The Number of the Day is broadcast on local stations across the country. An archive of these broadcasts can be found here.
Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
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