Most Americans believe it is acceptable to monitor others, but not U.S. citizens % ofus adults who say it is acceptable or unacceptable for the American governmentto say acceptable monitor
A 2015 Pew Research Center survey found that nearly six-in-ten Americans (57%) believe it is unacceptable for the government to monitor the communications of American citizens. But the survey found that around half of Americans say it is acceptable for the U.S. government to monitor the communications of citizens of other countries.
Most Americans believe it is acceptable  | to monitor others, but not U.S. citizens  | % ofus adults who say it is acceptable or unacceptable  | for the American governmentto say acceptable monitor  | communications from  | Accepta uble Unacceptable  | American citizens  | 40  | 57  | Citizens ofother countries  | 54  | 44  | American leaders  | 60  | 38  | Leaders of other countries  | 60  | 37  | Terrorism suspects  | 82  | 15  | Source: Survey conducted Nov 26. 2014-Jan. 3. 2015.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 