There have been a few polls about the specific iPhone issue [1] [2]. (All tend to be worded imperfectly and public opinion swings depending on how it is worded

There have been a few polls about the specific iPhone issue [1] [2]. (All tend to be worded imperfectly and public opinion swings depending on how it is worded, suggesting the more the public is informed on the issue, the more they side with Apple's stance.) I tend to think that "public support for reform of mass policing" is too vague to get a real public opinion on. Everyone has different ideas on what needs to be reformed. By asking this questions you make citizens feel involved, but you don't get a real public discussion unless you are talking about something specific like putting back doors into phones. This was part of the problem with the Snowden revelations, in my opinion. There were so many that we had trouble attacking more than a few at a time. The larger issue of course is that the FISA court makes it impossible for the government to sufficiently comment on any of that. [1] https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160224/18124533706/way-you-ask-questions-matters-reuters-poll-says-people-support-apple-against-fbi-all-questions.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160224/18124533706/way-y... [2] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/03/18/technology/document-Apple-Poll-Questions.html http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/03/18/technology/doc...