Poll: Public concerns rise on spying, privacy

Edward Snowden's surveillance leaks may be having an effect on American attitudes. A solid majority now feels the government does a poor job of protecting privacy rights.
A new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows close to 60 per cent of Americans either strongly or moderately oppose the NSA's collection of telephone and Internet usage data.
A similar majority is skeptical they are protected by the secret federal court that oversees the government's classified surveillance operations.
The American public is still anxious as the 12th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches. Most feel it's sometimes necessary to sacrifice some rights to confront terrorism.

But only 53 per cent now say the government does a good job of ensuring freedoms as opposed to 60 per cent two years ago.