Poll: Most Americans Now Oppose The NSA Program - USAToday [View all]

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Poll: Most Americans now oppose the NSA program
Those surveyed now split 45%-43% on whether Snowden's disclosures have helped or harmed the public interest.
Susan Page, USA TODAY
3:10 p.m. EST January 20, 2014

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WASHINGTON -- Most Americans now disapprove of the NSA's sweeping collection of phone metadata, a new USA TODAY/Pew Research Center Poll finds, and they're inclined to think there aren't adequate limits in place to what the government can collect.

President Obama's announcement Friday of changes in the surveillance programs has done little to allay those concerns: By 73%-21%, those who paid attention to the speech say his proposals won't make much difference in protecting people's privacy.

The poll of 1,504 adults, taken Wednesday through Sunday, shows a public that is more receptive than before to the arguments made by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. His leak of intelligence documents since last spring has fueled a global debate over the National Security Agency's surveillance of Americans and spying on foreign leaders.

Those surveyed now split, 45%-43%, on whether Snowden's disclosures have helped or harmed the public interest.

The snapshot of public opinion comes as the White House, the intelligence agencies and Congress weigh significant changes in the way the programs are run. In his address, Obama insisted no illegalities had been exposed but proposed steps to reassure Americans that proper safeguards were in place.

By nearly 3-1, 70%-26%, Americans say they shouldn't have to give up privacy and freedom in order to be safe from terrorism.

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More: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/01/20/poll-nsa-surveillance/4638551/