Almost a Third Strongly Disapprove of Warrantless Device Searches at the Border

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Almost a Third Strongly Disapprove of Warrantless Device Searches at the Border

Toronto, August 21st – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ amongst 1150 Canadian voters, almost a third (30%) strongly disapprove of Canadian border officers searching devices such as laptops and cell phones at the border without a warrant, while almost half (BTM2: 46%) disapprove, overall.

Almost a quarter (22%) strongly approve of border officers’ ability to search devices at the border without a warrant, while more than a third (TOP2: 37%) approve, overall.

Just over one-in-ten (14%) says they neither approve nor disapprove, and (4%) say they do not know.

Respondents most likely to disapprove include those 34 and younger (58%), males (48%), those earning $80,000-$100,000 (60%), living in the Atlantic Provinces (54%), or Alberta (52%), with a post-graduate degree (57%), and supporting the NDP (54%) or Green Party (57%).

Respondents most likely to approve include those 65 and older (51%), earning $40,000-$60,000 (48%), the least educated (49%), and supporting the Conservatives (50%)

“Almost half disapprove of border officers searching their devices at the border without a warrant, but a strong minority approve of the practice. There is a clear ideological divide on the issue, but generally opinion skews toward privacy over security,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.

Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.