Kiwis want to know what the government is up to

A new survey by Horizon Research has revealed Kiwis want their personal information protected from interception by the government.

A nationwide poll found 75% of New Zealanders would like to know whether New Zealand Government agencies are gathering personal communications transmitted via the internet and other networks for detailed search later using software operated by the United States National Security Agency.

The 75% were split on whether authorised interception warrants to gather and search information should be given before or after interception, but 88% agreed that authorised warrants were necessary.

The Horizon Research survey of 2054 people nationwide asked respondents how strongly they agreed or disagreed that companies providing services such as internet, e-mail, telephone and other online services have a duty to protect users' personal information from interception by governments.

Fifty percent of respondents strongly agreed these companies did have a duty to protect information from interception and 15% agreed. Five percent slightly agreed, resulting in total agreement of 70%.

Horizon claims the Prime Minister's handling of the issue of mass interception of personal data is generally evoking negative feelings, with 43% of those surveyed saying it makes them feel 'Concerned' and 31% saying it makes them feel 'Angry'.

The respondent group who felt 'Concerned' included 19% of those who had voted for the National Party in the 2014 general election. The Prime Minister's handling of the issue is not making respondents who voted for the National Party in the 2014 election feel 'angry', but it was making 27% of those who had voted for ACT in 2014 feel 'angry'.

In general, Horizon says the percentage of people who are feel 'Angry' about the Prime Minister's handling of the issue declines with increasing age; 46% of 18-24 year olds described themselves as feeling angry.