PORTLAND, Ore., July 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As consumers' concerns about their digital privacy continue to grow and who is responsible for guarding it remains unclear, new research conducted by Ponemon Institute, a renowned research center dedicated to privacy, data protection and information security policy, and sponsored by ID Experts reveals a startling lack of empowerment consumers feel when it comes to their data privacy. The complete Privacy and Security in a Digital World: A Study of Consumers in the United States report is available for download at https://bit.ly/3f1W5NM.

The research points to a privacy gap between the consumer data protection individuals want and what industry and regulators provide. While the majority of consumers want their data protected, they're still waiting on or expecting the federal government or industries to provide this protection. For instance, a majority of consumers (60%) believe government regulation should help address the privacy risks facing consumers today, of which 34% say government regulation is needed to protect personal privacy and 26% believe a hybrid option (regulation and self-regulation) should be pursued.

Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of Ponemon Institute, said, "This research revealed much of the tension surrounding digital privacy today. Based on my polling experience, these findings make a compelling case for the important role identity protection products and services play in protecting consumers' privacy. The study shows that many consumers are alarmed by the uptick in privacy scandals and want to protect their information, but don't know how to and feel like they lack the right tools to do so."

Tom Kelly, president and CEO of ID Experts, commented, "What we're seeing is a privacy gap between Americans' desire for a solution due to their growing concern for their digital privacy and the services that the actual protection government and industry leaders offer. Consumers must recognize that there are simple tools and practices they can implement to guard their data privacy, and government leaders and online platforms won't do it for them."

Interestingly, the study found that 64% of consumers say they think it is "creepy" when they receive online ads that are relevant to them, but not based on their online search behavior or publicly available information. This confirms that many consumers experience this phenomenon and are alarmed by it. In addition, ID Experts' research findings reveal that 73% of consumers say advertisers should allow them to "opt-out" of receiving ads on any specific topic at any time.

This research also reveals a lack of empowerment that consumers feel in their ability to protect their privacy. While 74% of consumers say they have no control over the personal information that is collected on them, ID Experts' research reveals they are not taking action to limit the data they provide when using online services. In fact, 54% of consumers say they do not consciously limit what personal data they are providing. This lack of empowerment can have devastating effects on consumers' privacy if it goes unchecked.

Other key findings include:

About the Privacy and Security in a Digital World study

The research was conducted by Ponemon Institute and included interviews of over 650 adults across the country who represent a diverse sample of gender, age, race, political and religious beliefs, educational backgrounds and income levels.

For more details, read the full report here.

About ID Experts

ID Expertsis the leading pure-play data breach and identity protection services privacy technology company.MyIDCare, its flagship digital privacy and identity protection product, is built on a secure, SaaS cloud-native platform that utilizes an agile delivery system. As the largest provider of identity protection services to the U.S. government and a trusted provider to Fortune 500-sized companies and millions of Americans, ID Experts delivers lasting peace of mind from privacy cyber risks.

About Ponemon Institute

Ponemon Institute is dedicated to advancing responsible information and privacy management practices in business and government. To achieve this objective, the Institute conducts independent research, educates leaders from the private and public sectors and verifies the privacy and data protection practices of organizations in a variety of industries.

SOURCE ID Experts

https://www.idexpertscorp.com

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Startling New Ponemon Research Uncovers 74% of Consumers Say They Have Little Control Over the Personal Information Collected on Them - PRNewswire