Consumer
concerns over companies adequately protecting their privacy on mobile networks and in apps are increasing, according to the latest “Consumer Confidence Index” from privacy solutions
provider Truste. In a survey of over 2,0000 U.S. adults conducted in early January, 72% of smartphone owners in the group say they are more concerned about privacy on their phones than they were a
year ago.Consumers also say that their content choices and consumption habits are affected by the awareness that their data may not be protected. Eighty-one percent of smartphone owners say they avoid
using apps that they don’t believe protect their privacy. Harris Interactive conducted the research on Truste’s behalf.
“It’s clear that mobile privacy is the latest
hot button issue for consumers and legislators alike,” states Truste CEO Chris Babel. The increased activity in e-commerce and the proliferation of mobile phones is helping to keep privacy
concerns high among consumers. The Index for 2013 finds that 43% of U.S. consumers do not trust companies with their personal information, an increase of two points since last year’s survey.
Persistent concerns about the privacy issue are down slightly since last year, with 89% saying they worry at least sometimes about the problem (down from 90% last year). But 89% of
respondents said they had concerns about their online shopping activities, 87% about using social networks and 86% of online banking customers were concerned about the issue some of the time.
September 28 has been declared “Data Privacy Day” by the National Cyber Security Alliance, a non-profit organization with board members from AT&T, PayPal, Google and Microsoft. A
series of live and Webcast events will take place today on the topic. Truste’s Chris Babel will be speaking at the Online Trust Alliance’s Data Privacy Day Town Hall in Seattle. Facebook Live will be
broadcasting the kickoff events surrounding Data Privacy Day beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET.