• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, December 16, 2019

Wunderman Thompson Data is out with a new study that found privacy and security of personal information and data is the second most worrisome issue to consumers behind healthcare. 

Some 58% of 1,500 U.S. respondents indicated they are very concerned about the privacy and security of their personal information and data. 

Other key findings from the survey include: 

·  85% agree: “It’s difficult to know just what to do to protect your personal information and data these days”

· 82% recognize they should be more diligent in protecting their personal data and information

· 68% find Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies “difficult to understand” and as a result, 72% only read them sometimes (25%), rarely (35%) or never (12%).

·64% say: “I worry about the security and privacy of my personal information & data, but honestly, I’ve kind of given up trying to control it.”

·53% strongly agree: “It seems a little sneaky to me the way companies go about getting this data and using it”

·Only 18% say they are “very diligent” in ensuring the privacy and security of their data 

· Only 15% strongly agree: “I feel like I have a good understanding of how my data is used by the company I do business with and the services I use” 

The survey also found that data protection regulations and legislation are barely registering with consumers.

Awareness levels of the General Data Protection Regulation, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and California Consumer Privacy Action are 13%, 12% and 10%, respectively.