{"id":15958,"date":"2013-06-20T00:01:17","date_gmt":"2013-06-20T05:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/%year%\/%monthnum%\/%day%\/most-americans-believe-government-surveillance-program-helped-prevent-terrorist-attacks\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:31:08","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:31:08","slug":"most-americans-believe-government-surveillance-program-helped-prevent-terrorist-attacks","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2013\/06\/20\/most-americans-believe-government-surveillance-program-helped-prevent-terrorist-attacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Americans believe government surveillance program helped prevent terrorist attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

In testimony before the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, the head of the National Security Agency, Gen. Keith Alexander, said the government surveillance programs which have set off a national debate had helped prevent more than 50 terrorist \u201cevents\u201d<\/a> since Sept. 11, 2001.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Many Americans appear to accept that defense of the program as true, according to a survey conducted just days before the hearing. A majority (53%) think the government\u2019s collection of telephone and internet data has helped prevent terrorist attacks, while 41% say it has not.<\/p>\n\n

But while a majority agree the program has helped prevent terrorist attacks, the public is still split on its view of the surveillance programs: 48% approve of the collection of data and 47% do not.<\/p>\n\n

In addition, Americans are divided over when the information that former government contractor Edward Snowden leaked about the surveillance efforts served or harmed the public interest. Just under half (49%) said the leaks served the public interest while 44 % said they harmed it. Read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A majority of Americans think the government\u2019s collection of phone and internet data has helped prevent terrorist 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