A recent GfK survey of 1,000 U.S. citizens has found that 88 percent of respondents are at least “a little” concerned about the privacy of their personal data (h/t Computerworld).
The poll, conducted from March 7 to 9, 2014, also found that one third of consumers were directly impacted by the misuse of personal data within the past year.
Concerns about privacy are increasing — 49 percent of respondents now say they’re “very much” concerned about data privacy, and 59 percent say their concern has risen in the last 12 months.
Fifty-six percent of respondents say top organizations like social networks and credit card companies need to take action on data privacy, and 54 percent say the U.S. government isn’t doing enough to protect their data.
Almost 80 percent of respondents say the government should be more involved in implementing regulations to prevent organizations from “repurposing personal data for third parties.”
“Shared data is, in many ways, the engine of the online economy, especially in this era of Big Data,” GfK CEO Matthias Hartmann said in a statement. “Keeping a close eye on consumers’ feelings about data privacy provides essential intelligence for the marketplace — allowing quicker and smarter reactions to emerging concerns.”
