GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- A recent Gallup survey finds the majority of Internet users pay heavy lip service to concerns about Internet privacy, but at the same time finds most users pay scant attention to the issue. Of the more than 50% of Americans who now say they regularly use the Internet, 53% say they are "very concerned" about online privacy and another 29% are "somewhat concerned." Yet only 16% report paying very close attention to such issues such as the confidentiality of personal information transmitted over the web, and the tracking of individuals' surfing habits by marketers. Another 36% are paying "somewhat close" attention to these matters, but nearly half, 48%, admit to paying little or no attention.
Just as web users are not focused on Internet privacy as a major issue, nor are they clamoring for government action to improve it. Just half of Internet users, 50%, say the government should do more to ensure citizens' privacy online, while nearly as many believe the government is either doing enough at present (41%) or should actually be doing less (6%). Web users are closely split on a specific proposal to require Internet service providers to turn over email records and download logs as court evidence. Only 51% oppose this possible threat to privacy while 45% are in favor.
Email Privacy Tops List of Concerns
Nevertheless, several privacy issues trigger alarm bells for a
majority of web users. A leading concern is the potential of
government spying on private email. Nearly two-thirds of Internet
users, 63%, say they are "very concerned" about software, which
allows the government to tap into Internet email to search for any
kind incriminating evidence. Another major concern is the
proliferation of powerful information databases that allow
unprecedented access to the public records of ordinary Americans,
such as telephone directories, property tax information and legal
records. Sixty percent of web users say they are very concerned
about the existence of such search tools. A majority, 54%, are also
very concerned about the government's ability to tap into suspects'
home computer files.
Of somewhat less concern are a variety of practices that allow the government or corporate marketers to track Internet usage patterns. Only 43% to 47% report high levels of concern about usage tracking by corporate web sites, Internet advertisers, or the government.
While the percentage of people who are "very concerned" about most of these infringements on Internet privacy hovers around the fifty percent mark, privacy concern is much more widespread when including those who are "somewhat concerned." Very few web users, ranging from just 14% to 27%, say they are "not too" or "not at all" concerned about these issues.
Survey Methods
The results below are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,008 adults, 18 years and older, conducted September 11-13, 2000. For results based on the sub-sample of 573 adults who use the Internet on a regular basis, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 5 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
Do you personally use the Internet on a regular basis, either at home, work, or school?
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
53% |
47 |
* |
How closely have you followed issues relating to privacy of personal information and use patterns on the Internet -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all closely?
BASED ON -- 573 -- INTERNET USERS; ± 5 PCT. PTS.
|
Very |
Somewhat closely |
Not too closely |
Not at all closely |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
16% |
36 |
30 |
18 |
0 |
How concerned are you personally about the privacy of personal information you give out on the Internet, as well as privacy regarding what you do on the Internet -- very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?
BASED ON -- 573 -- INTERNET USERS; ± 5 PCT. PTS.
|
Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not too concerned |
Not at all concerned |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
53% |
29 |
14 |
4 |
* |
How concerned are you personally about each of the following? How about…[ROTATED]? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?
BASED ON -- 573 -- INTERNET USERS; ± 5 PCT. PTS.
A. Large online databases which publish telephone directories, property tax information, legal information and other publicly available records which allow database subscribers to investigate the lives of ordinary Americans
|
Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not too concerned |
Not at all concerned |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
60% |
22 |
12 |
6 |
* |
B. Corporate websites gathering marketing information about consumers by tracking their online Internet habits
|
Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not too concerned |
Not at all concerned |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
43% |
32 |
16 |
9 |
0 |
C. Internet advertisers gathering marketing information about people who click on their ads by tracking their online Internet habits
|
Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not too concerned |
Not at all concerned |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
44% |
30 |
19 |
7 |
* |
D. The government's ability to "tap" into a suspect's computer and follow their Internet usage
|
Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not too concerned |
Not at all concerned |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
47% |
26 |
16 |
11 |
* |
E. The government's ability to "tap" into suspects' home computer files
|
Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not too concerned |
Not at all concerned |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
54% |
24 |
16 |
6 |
* |
F. Software which allows the government to "tap" into all Internet email, searching for incriminating evidence of any kind
|
Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not too concerned |
Not at all concerned |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
63% |
23 |
9 |
5 |
* |
Would you favor or oppose federal legislation which would force Internet service providers to turn over email records and download logs as court evidence?
BASED ON -- 573 -- INTERNET USERS; ± 5 PCT. PTS.
|
Favor |
Oppose |
No opinion |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
45% |
51 |
4 |
In your opinion, should the federal government be paying [ROTATED: more attention to matters of Internet privacy (or) less attention to matters of Internet privacy (or) things are about right the way they are]?
BASED ON -- 573 -- INTERNET USERS; ± 5 PCT. PTS.
|
More |
Less |
About |
MIXED/ |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
53% |
13 |
31 |
1 |
2 |
Do you think the federal government should do more or do less to ensure citizen's privacy on-line -- or is the federal government doing about the right amount now?
BASED ON -- 573 -- INTERNET USERS; ± 5 PCT. PTS.
|
Do more |
Do less |
CURRENTLY |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
50% |
6 |
41 |
3 |
Which political party do you think will be able to do a better job of dealing with matters of Internet privacy in the coming years -- [ROTATED: the Democratic Party (or) the Republican Party]?
BASED ON -- 573 -- INTERNET USERS; ± 5 PCT. PTS.
|
Democratic |
Republican |
BOTH/ |
No |
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 |
38% |
34 |
14 |
14 |
*Less than %
