Survey Finds Deep Consumer Anxiety over Data Privacy and Security

Survey Finds Deep Consumer Anxiety over Data Privacy and Security
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A new survey shows that 78 percent of U.S. respondents say a company's ability to keep their data private is "extremely important" and only 20 percent "completely trust" organizations they interact with to maintain the privacy of their data.

The poll underscores the public's view of the obligation that organizations have to handle data responsibly and protect it from hackers. The online survey of 10,000 consumers, conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of IBM, found that 75 percent will not buy a product from a company, no matter how great the products are, if they don't trust the company to protect their data.

73 percent think businesses are focused on profits over addressing consumers' security needs. 73 percent indicated it is extremely important that companies quickly take proper actions to stop a data breach; and 60 percent are more concerned about cybersecurity than a potential war.

"Increasingly, we are seeing companies around the world trying to balance providing personalized services to consumers, while maintaining privacy," said John Kelly, IBM Senior Vice President, Cognitive Solutions. "Getting this right requires companies working closely with each other and, importantly, with governments, to ensure the right protections are in place.