PC World Poll Highlights Privacy Concerns

Privacy vs. Security: How Much Are You Willing to Trade?

Prompted by the recent terrorist attacks, law enforcement agencies are now pushing to gain easier, court-authorized access to private communications and data as part of the effort to track and apprehend terrorists. We conducted an online poll that asked our readers how they felt about these developments. There were 1301 respondents. The survey results are given below.

Are you concerned about law enforcement agencies having greater access to your e-mail?

• 37% were extremely concerned
  
  
• 23% were very concerned
  
  
• 22% were not very concerned
  
  
• 16% were not at all concerned
  
  
• 3% don't know
  
  

Are you concerned about law enforcement agencies having greater authority to track your Web habits?

• 40% were extremely concerned
  
  
• 23% were very concerned
  
  
• 21% were not very concerned
  
  
• 14% were not at all concerned
  
  
• 2% don't know
  
  

Are you concerned about law enforcement agencies having greater access to your personal financial records?

• 51% were extremely concerned
  
  
• 19% were very concerned
  
  
• 17% were not very concerned
  
  
• 9% were not at all concerned
  
  
• 3% don't know
  
  

Are you concerned about law enforcement agencies having greater access to your medical records?

• 46% were extremely concerned
  
  
• 18% were very concerned
  
  
• 20% were not very concerned
  
  
• 12% were not at all concerned
  
  
• 3% don't know
  
  

Numbers may not add up to 100% due to rounding