Privacy in the Information Age

Abstract

In recent years, surveillance has become an increasingly salient political issue in the United States. In this article we present data on public opinion about privacy invasions and surveillance techniques since 1990. Generally speaking, the polls show that concern about threats to personal privacy has been growing in recent years. Although the public was temporarily willing to expand the government’s investigative powers in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, support for most forms of surveillance has declined.