(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States express concerns about confidentiality, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 70 per cent of respondents are worried about the invasion of privacy through new technology.

Australia was next on the list of five countries surveyed with 64 per cent, followed by Britain with 59 per cent, and New Zealand with 57 per cent. Only 32 per cent of respondents in Indonesia expressed worries about confidentiality.

Last December, U.S. president George W. Bush defended a secret domestic electronic surveillance program that includes the wiretapping of the telephone calls and e-mails of Americans suspected of having terrorist ties. The president's remarks came in response to media reports that, since 2002, Bush has authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to operate this program without any judicial oversight.

In February, Britain's House of Commons voted 310-279 to approve the introduction of national identity cards in 2008. The plans call for every person who applies to get a new passport to also receive an identity card, with their biometric details stored on a central register. Following the vote, British prime minister Tony Blair declared, "I think we've won the argument on it. People have this idea that there's a problem in civil liberties with people having an identity card and an identity registered today when across all walks of our life this is happening."

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree? - I'm worried about invasion of my privacy through new technology.

Archive Search

Over 19,300 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.