ABC News Privacy and Harassment Poll, June 1994

This special topic poll was undertaken to assess respondents' opinions on and concerns about privacy and sexual harassment. Respondents were asked whether computers and technology, companies keeping personal information on their customers, credit agencies recording and disclosing credit information, and access to public government records by third parties constituted invasions of privacy. Respondents were polled on whether they worried about government agencies or private companies like credit card companies misusing their personal information or their personal information being accessed by hackers or by persons monitoring their phone conversations. In addition, respondents were asked whether they had ever been a victim of information misuse, whether they were concerned about the accuracy of public records about them, and whether there should be laws governing third party access to personal information without consumer consent, the inclusion of corrections and criticisms of personal information, notification of the types of information held by an organization about an individual, and access to one's personal information for a minimal fee. Opinions were gathered on President Clinton's handling of relations with North Korea, whether the United Nations should have imposed a trade embargo on North Korea, whether the United States and its allies should have taken military action against North Korea, and whether dealings with North Korea involved interests vital to the United States. Respondents were also queried on whether sexual harassment in the workplace was a problem in the United States, whether respondents themselves had ever been harassed, and if they reported the harassment, the outcomes of reporting the harassment, the reasons one may or may not report sexual harassment, and whether the accuser or accused is more likely to be believed in sexual harassment cases. Views were gathered on whether it is easy or hard to legally file sexual harassment charges, whether sexual harassment may be brought on by one's clothing and/or behavior, whether President Clinton sexually harassed former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones, and whether Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sexually harassed Anita Hill. Demographic information includes age, education, ethnicity, employment status, political orientation, and sex.