Washington: Edward Snowden`s surveillance leaks may be having an effect on American attitudes. A solid majority now feels the government does a poor job of protecting privacy rights.
A new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows close to 60 per cent of Americans either strongly or moderately oppose the NSA`s collection of telephone and Internet usage data.
A similar majority is skeptical they are protected by the secret federal court that oversees the government`s classified surveillance operations.
The American public is still anxious as the 12th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches. Most feel it`s sometimes necessary to sacrifice some rights to confront terrorism.
But only 53 per cent now say the government does a good job of ensuring freedoms as opposed to 60 per cent two years ago.
PTI
