The majority of UK consumers – 87 percent – are worried about the security of their personal information online, following numerous stories of data breaches hitting the headlines over the past 12 months.
That’s according to a new report from Yoti and YouGov, which surveyed over 2,000 consumers in the UK to find out how people feel about sharing their information online.
Notably, the report found that almost half (46 percent) of 18-34 year olds have given false information online. The main reason given for this was to avoid unwanted contact or spam, demonstrating that consumers do not trust that businesses will use their details appropriately.
With individuals repeatedly asked to share personal and sensitive information in exchange for goods or services, it’s clear that there are frustrations with the current process. 45% of adults still feel uncomfortable when entering personal details online, and just over one in ten British adults have been a victim of identity theft.
“Given the ever-growing number of high profile data breaches, it’s no surprise that most UK consumers are increasingly worried about sharing their personal data,” said Robin Tombs, CEO, Yoti. “People have to trust that both big and small businesses will secure their information and not let it fall into the wrong hands. But with countless stories of data leaks, often from well-known brands, it’s no wonder this trust has gone. More and more people recognise that they can take control. By choosing to replace weak passwords with biometrics and minimising the amount of sensitive and personal data they share, they will protect their information and enable businesses to tighten their security.”
Additional findings include:
- 38% of people who have sent a passport or driving licence to a company as proof of ID are then worried about how that information is stored
- This was most concerning for those aged 35-44 years, with just under half (47%) saying they felt worried about this
- 46% of respondents would be likely to use a smartphone app that allowed them to prove their identity in the same way as using an official ID document instead of using their paper documents repeatedly.
The report also highlights the need for companies to consider whether their current way of collecting customer information during the onboarding process meets the quick, convenient and easy experience demanded by today’s digital society.
You can download the full report here.
