3 February 2015
In a recent survey published in the annual TRUSTe Consumer Confidence Index, 35% of British internet users said they believe more legislation would help protect personal information. Forty-two per cent believe greater transparency from companies about how collected information is used would lower their concerns. The study was released as the EU considers the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation.
The data-privacy management company also found that 36% feel that more active enforcement of measures to protect online privacy would boost their confidence, as the survey also showed that 92% of internet users worried about their privacy when online, rating personal online privacy higher than national security.
According to the article:
When those more concerned about their privacy online were asked what had contributed most to this feeling, 48% said companies sharing their personal information with other companies, while 35% were concerned about recent security threats such as the Heartbleed bug. Twenty-one per cent listed government surveillance programs such as the NSA's PRISM, as a reason for their increased concern.
Consumer trust continues to fall. Just over half of British Internet users (51%) agreed that they trust most companies with their personal information online. This is down from 55% in 2014 and the fourth consecutive year that consumer trust has fallen. The business impact of this is high, as 89% say they avoid companies they do not believe protect their privacy.
Source: PR Newswire