Americans are widely concerned about their government spying on U.S. citizens – and are even more distrustful of the judgement it exhibits when it does spy on them – a new national survey of voters reveals.
Fully 71% of voters have concerns about the government spying on citizens, while only six percent aren’t concerned, according to a Rasmussen survey of U.S. likely voters conducted December 22-23 and 26, 2024. Among all likely voters, 40% say they’re “very concerned” and 31% report being “somewhat concerned.”
Large majorities of all demographic groups (gender, age, race, party, income) are worried about domestic spying, though those with annual incomes over $100,000 are slightly less concerned than those in lower income brackets.
Of those who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, 82% are at least somewhat concerned about government spying on citizens, including 53% who are very worried, compared to 63% of those who chose Kamala Harris for president (including 30% who feel very concerned).
One reason for voters’ concerns appears to be that they have very little faith in the judgement practiced by their government when it does spy on its citizens, as three times as many report that they don’t trust the government’s judgement as say they do (61%-30%). Another 19% “aren’t sure” whether or not they trust the government’s judgment regarding domestic spying.
More Trump voters (68%) than Harris voters (53%) don’t trust the government’s spying judgement.
More voters think that domestic spying will increase under President-elect Trump’s administration than expect it to decrease (45%-32%). Democrat voters are the only demographic cohort where a majority say it will increase (68%), while Republican voters are the only group with a majority expecting government spying to decrease (56%).