The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Opinion of retaining personal information

20 Oct 2015

Q. Which of the following statements is closest to your view?

Total

Vote Labor

Vote Lib/Nat

Vote Greens

Vote Other

Aug 2014

Nov 2014

Governments having access to personal telephone and internet information is necessary to protect society from terrorist or criminal actions.

42%

37%

57%

24%

24%

37%

41%

Governments are increasingly using the argument about terrorism to collect and store personal data and information, and this is a dangerous direction for society

41%

50%

29%

63%

58%

49%

44%

Don’t know

16%

13%

14%

13%

19%

13%

15%

Opinions were divided between the two statements. 42% agreed more that “Governments having access to personal telephone and internet information is necessary to protect society from terrorist or criminal actions” and 41% agreed more that “Governments are increasingly using the argument about terrorism to collect and store personal data and information, and this is a dangerous direction for society”

Since this question was asked in 2014 there has been a consistent shift to agreement that “Governments having access to personal telephone and internet information is necessary to protect society from terrorist or criminal actions”.

Error: