SHOCK POLL: Americans Trust IRS, NSA More than Facebook

A new Reason-Rupe poll to be launched Thursday morning indicates that 35% of Americans trust the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with their personal data, while only 10% trust Google and only 5% trust Facebook. In fact, while trust in the IRS is low, the tax collection agency remains more trusted than other choices, even after a scandal in which the IRS targeted conservative nonprofit groups and leaked confidential tax information.

Even the National Security Agency (NSA), which is embroiled in scandals of its own, is more trusted than the tech companies. The poll, which was conducted Mar. 26-30 with 1,003 respondents–half by land line and half by cell phone–and has a margin of error of 3.6%, asked, “Which of the following do you TRUST THE MOST with your personal information?” 35% said the IRS, 18% said the NSA, 10% said Facebook and 5% said Google.

A separate question asked, “Who do you think is most likely to VIOLATE your privacy?” The NSA was thought to be most likely, at 36%, followed by Facebook at 26%. The IRS was third at 18%, and Google fourth at 12%.