---
title: "Did NSA Snooping Hurt U.S. Image? Not So Much"
description: "It is conventional wisdom among many pundits and opinion leaders that recent revelations of spying by the U.S. National Security Agency have deeply scarred America’s reputation abroad."
date: "2014-07-30"
authors:
  - name: "No Author"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2014/07/30/did-nsa-snooping-hurt-u-s-image-not-so-much/"
---

# Did NSA Snooping Hurt U.S. Image? Not So Much

*By Bruce Stokes, Director of Economic Attitudes, Pew Research Center*

*Special to [CNN](http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/30/did-nsa-snooping-hurt-u-s-image-not-so-much/)*

It is conventional wisdom among many pundits and opinion leaders that recent revelations of spying by the U.S. National Security Agency have deeply scarred America’s reputation abroad. The problem with such a narrative is that recent public opinion data paint a far more nuanced picture. True, foreigners don’t like that Washington spies on them and their leaders, and such NSA activities have eroded America’s soft power standing as a preeminent defender of personal freedoms. But there’s no evidence that the NSA’s recent behavior has sparked a general rise in anti-Americanism around the world.

Make no mistake about it. Publics around the world aren’t happy about NSA spying. In 37 of 43 nations outside the United States that were [surveyed recently](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2014/07/14/global-opposition-to-u-s-surveillance-and-drones-but-limited-harm-to-americas-image/) by the Pew Research Center, majorities say American surveillance of ordinary citizens in the respondent’s country is unacceptable.

*Read more at [CNN's Public Square blog](http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/30/did-nsa-snooping-hurt-u-s-image-not-so-much/)*