Majority of Brits are worried about how their personal data is handled by organizations storing them, new research reveals.
According to research from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), 85 per cent of the Brits are “concerned” about how their details are passed or sold to third-parties. 77 per cent of the respondents said they are concerned that organizations are “not collecting and keeping personal details secure” while 67 per cent believe companies are requesting unnecessary data or collecting details they do not need.
“Providing people with enough information to understand how their details will be used is a basic principle of data protection. While the vast majority of companies are meeting the letter of the law, figures released today show that most people remain concerned about how their information is being shared. This situation is not good for consumers, or for businesses,” said UK Information Commissioner Christopher Graham.
“Businesses should take the results of our survey as a prompt to address consumers’ concerns and provide clearer information to explain when people’s details will be shared and with whom.”
When questioned on freedom of information issue, 75 per cent said in their opinion private companies acting on behalf of the public sector should be subject to the Freedom of Information Act and 79 per cent felt it is important that the regulator is independent of government.
“The ICO has to find the right balance of the public interest – between openness to the outside and necessary frankness inside organisations,” he said.
“These decisions are not straightforward and are sometimes controversial, but as guardians of the public interest we are properly accountable to Parliament and the courts,” Graham concluded.
The ICO surveyed some 1,500 UK consumers for its research.
