WASHINGTON <\/p>\n
Some two years after Edward Snowden revealed that he leaked classified documents about government snooping, some Americans say they have taken extra precautions to protect themselves online. <\/p>\n
But by and large, most seemingly have not changed their Internet or mobile phone habits. <\/p>\n
Those are the conclusions of a report released this week by the Pew Research Centers Internet project that explores U.S. attitudes about electronic surveillance. <\/p>\n
Titled \"Americans Privacy Strategies Post Snowden,\" the study is the first to probe not only Americans opinions about alleged National Security Agency monitoring of phones and the Internet, but also how those opinions are shaping their behavior. <\/p>\n
\"In this report, we have indications that a sizable segment of Americans are changing some of their behaviors in response to the Snowden leaks,\" lead author and Pew senior researcher Mary Madden said. \"But most of these changes are not highly technical and instead point to self-censoring behavior.\" <\/p>\n
Nearly 90 percent of the 475 respondents had heard at least a little about the NSA programs revealed in the Snowden leaks, with about 30 percent saying theyve heard a lot. <\/p>\n
Of that 90 percent, just about one-third say theyve altered their behavior in some way to help shield their activities and guard their privacy on the phone or online. These steps included changing privacy settings on social media like Facebook (17 percent), avoiding certain apps or programs (15 percent), or communicating more in person than electronically (14 percent). <\/p>\n
One possible reason more adults didnt change their behavior, Madden said, is a lack of awareness of available tools or a perceived lack of technological knowledge. <\/p>\n
\"Things like encryption, proxy servers, anonymity services these are all technologies that are being used by a pretty small segment of the population right now,\" Madden told VOA. \"We find that over half of Americans say they in fact it would be difficult for them to find tools and strategies for them to be more private online.\" <\/p>\n
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