Opinion

Privacy Fears Only Go So Far

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

April 9, 1998 / 6:01 PM EDT / CBS

In an age of phone cards, ATMs, and the Internet, most Americans worry about their personal identification numbers being stolen.

In a CBS News Poll conducted for 48 Hours, Americans say they are worried enough to not do business over the phone or computer, even though few have any personal experience with credit cards or other PIN numbers being stolen.

But despite fears that the new electronic world makes people prey to identity theft, one electronic device does make people feel physically safer. Worries about privacy rights donÂ't extend to video surveillance cameras on city streets.

By 53 percent to 34 percent, people think surveillance cameras would do more to reduce crime in cities than they would infringe on privacy.

Stealing Pins
Eighty-six percent of people are somewhat to very concerned about the theft of so-called Â"personal identity numbersÂ" or PINs. Fifty-seven percent are very concerned.

Yet most of those concerned havenÂ't personally experienced theft. Only 24 percent have ever had a credit card, a Social Security number, or any other kind of PIN number stolen. And when it comes to true Â"identity theft, less than 5 percent have had a credit card as well as other PIN numbers stolen and used.

People 30 to 64 years old are the most worried about their PIN numbers being stolen. Eighty-nine percent say they are somewhat to very concerned. Sixty percent are very concerned.

Baby Boomers, 30 to 44, are the most likely to say they donÂ't make purchases over the phone or Internet because of their fears. Seventy-six percent of them say it stops them from doing business that way, compared to 66 percent of all people.

Establishing Identity
Eighty-five percent of people also feelÂ—in this electronic ageÂ—that it would be very easy to gather a master file on someone that included such things as credit information, employment records, organizations belonged to, medical history, voting records, phone calls, buying habits, payment records, and trips taken.

However, the number who think such files are easy to compile is not up significantly from when it was asked in 1983. Eighty-five percent say a master list is easily compiled today, compared with 84 percent who said it would be easy in 1983.

Big Brother Is Watching
Fifty-one percent of the public thinks video surveillance cameras on some city streets would help reduce crime, while 38 percent think it would infringe on individualÂ's privacy rights.

But the least affluent people are more divided on this issue. Individuals who reported making less than $15,000 a year are evenly split on whether the surveillance cameras will really help reduce crime or will just diminish privacyÂ—as are people who live in the largest cities where thes is generally the greatest concern about crime and crime rates.

Those income and urban differences disappears when it comes to cameras meant to catch traffic violations. Two thirds of all people believe traffic cameras are a good idea, with fewer people worrying about privacy.

This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 994 adults first interviewed March 30 to April 1, 1998. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus three percentage points for results based on the entire sample.