Consumers Want More Transparency On How Personal Data Is Used And Protected: Report

Latest report suggests that consumers say their top priority is for organisations to be more transparent on how they use their personal data.

The Cisco survey also showed that while, in theory, consumers are supportive of AI (with 54 per cent willing to share their anonymized data to improve AI products), many (65 per cent) have lost trust in organisations due to their use of AI.

“Organisations need to explain their data practices in simple terms and make them readily available so that customers and users can understand what is going on with their data. It is not just legally required; trust depends on it”, said Harvey Jang, Cisco Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer.

This year, 81 per cent of respondents agreed that the way an organisation treats personal data is indicative of how it views and respects its customers – the highest percentage since Cisco began tracking it in 2019.

In response to the erosion of trust in organizations’ ability to protect data, many consumers are taking action to better protect their data themselves including:

• 76 percent say they would not buy from a company who they do not trust with their data
• 37 percent indicated they had indeed switched providers over data privacy practices
• 53 percent say they manage their cookie settings from a website before accepting
• 46 percent of those with a home listening device say they turn it off regularly to protect their privacy

The survey also revealed that more than of those surveyed want national or local government to play the primary role when it comes to protecting consumers data. Many consumers do not trust private companies to be responsible with personal data on their own accord.