The survey asked 1,042 Americans a number of questions regarding various civil rights, in the light of the recent terror attacks in both the US and abroad.
Out of all the survey respondents under 30, only a third supported the idea of warrantless Internet surveillance. In contrast, two-thirds of Americans over the age of 30 supported the idea.
Jerykk wrote on Jan 4, 2016, 23:12:
The U.S. has been spying on its citizens since the 50's. It's nothing new and for 99.99999% of the population, it has no impact on their life whatsoever. Opponents of surveillance believe that governments are inherently corrupt and that they will inevitably use any information they gather to either exploit or persecute you. I don't believe that to be true. Totalitarian governments use surveillance to help suppress opposition but they'd be suppressing opposition even if surveillance didn't exist.
Surveillance is inherently neutral. It doesn't turn a democratic nation into a totalitarian one. If it did, the U.S. would have become a totalitarian nation a long time ago (and please don't claim that the U.S. is already totalitarian; if that were true, you'd already be dead or in prison because of your publicly-expressed beliefs).
Out of all the survey respondents under 30, only a third supported the idea of warrantless Internet surveillance. In contrast, two-thirds of Americans over the age of 30 supported the idea.
NegaDeath wrote on Jan 4, 2016, 18:16:
RE: The "nothing to hide" argument, beyond the real personal ramifications one can reason out with even a cursory examination of the topic, is still an incredibly selfish argument. Mathematically it's entirely probable it won't be used against you. What about other people? Is it ok for power to be abused so long as it happens to someone else? Journalists critical of the people in power? Whistleblowers? Opposition members of government? Rival businesses of someone in power? evidence exists that this has already happened. There are things that happen outside ones sheltered, insular personal life that affect society as a whole.
Cutter wrote on Jan 4, 2016, 14:16:Porn-O-Matic wrote on Jan 4, 2016, 13:16:
As long as they don't slow down my connection while they are watching me, what do I care? I got nothing to hide, and definitely no internet activity of any great interest. I mean, look, I'm on Bluesnews for cryin' out loud. I'm sure my web habits would bore any government watchdog to tears.
Nothing to see here, boys. Move along.
Oh ok. So you'd be cool if we installed cameras all over your entire house and monitored everything you do everywhere you go 24/7, right?
Porn-O-Matic wrote on Jan 4, 2016, 13:16:
As long as they don't slow down my connection while they are watching me, what do I care? I got nothing to hide, and definitely no internet activity of any great interest. I mean, look, I'm on Bluesnews for cryin' out loud. I'm sure my web habits would bore any government watchdog to tears.
Nothing to see here, boys. Move along.
There are partisan differences in the acceptance of government investigations into Americans’ internet activities, with Republicans more supportive. Two-thirds of Republicans favor the analysis of internet activity and communication by the government without a warrant. Fifty-five percent of Democrats and only 40 percent of independents agree.
Porn-O-Matic wrote on Jan 4, 2016, 13:16:
As long as they don't slow down my connection while they are watching me, what do I care? I got nothing to hide, and definitely no internet activity of any great interest. I mean, look, I'm on Bluesnews for cryin' out loud. I'm sure my web habits would bore any government watchdog to tears.
Nothing to see here, boys. Move along.