Global issues revolving around internet privacy statistics have always been crucial topics. After all, stealing and exploiting someone’s personal data isn’t limited only to physical means. It can also be possible online. As technology advances, new concerns have emerged in recent years.
Nowadays, anyone with an online profile might be at risk, especially those who are not very familiar with how the internet works. To find out how you can protect your online privacy, here’s a master list of the statistics that will astound you.
Surprising Internet Safety Statistics to Keep in Mind (Editor’s Choice)
- The most prevalent kind of online data breach in the world is identity theft
- In 2020, over 91% of internet users in Japan were concerned about online privacy
- Iceland has the highest internet freedom percentage
- In the United States, 95% of digital shoppers don’t trust online shopping ads
- 79% of US online consumers don’t think companies would take responsibility for online privacy issues
- Out of 194 countries, 128 have legislation to protect data and privacy
- The highest percentage of people aware of its country’s online privacy laws is in India
- Around 9% of digital users residing in the United States consider digital privacy fake
Interesting Internet Privacy Facts
The internet can be used in hundreds of ways. With millions of individuals using it every day to browse data, perform online purchases, and manage social media accounts, it is important to protect your personal information. Here are some facts you should consider to gain insight into how your online data can be compromised.
1. Over 164.68 million private records have been exposed in the United States, according to the invasion of privacy statistics.
The global issue of online privacy has gained popularity in the last few years, and for a good reason. According to research, around 540 online data breaches have already been reported in the US in the first quarter of 2020. If not prevented, this number can increase in the second part of the year.
2. 48% of Americans think they have no control over their online privacy and security regarding the search terms they use.
(Pew Research Center)
A significant part of handling online privacy is user control. Maintaining safety on the internet means that you should control how much personal information you put online.
Many US citizens agree with this perspective. Around 48% think that they have zero control over the search terms they enter in search engines.
3. 95% of US online consumers don’t trust online shopping ads and recommendations.
When you regularly shop online, the sites you are visiting will analyze your standard search terms. They will then show ads and recommendations in accordance with your shopping preferences.
However, this modern feature is not very popular among digital users. According to a study, 95% of online buyers in the US don’t trust online ads shown on VR or AR headsets.
4. Consumer privacy statistics show that 81% of US consumers don’t trust online shopping ads on mobile phones.
Mobile ads can often be perceived as more bothersome due to their “unskippable” feature. This situation can be prevented by installing an ad blocker on your phone — the same thing people usually do on their desktop devices.
5. 86% of internet users in the US think that bloggers and influencers aren’t trustworthy.
Surfing statistics have shown that with the rise of the internet, new types of entertainment have become mainstream. Examples of such are bloggers and influencers that can be found on every social media platform.
However, internet users seem to be distrustful of these online celebrities. According to a recent study, around 86% of internet users living in the US do not trust bloggers and influencers.
6. In 2019, 47% of US Baby Boomer mobile users were concerned about data privacy issues.
Research showed that approximately 47% of mobile users in the US were worried about their data privacy. It is also worth noting that this percentage came from American adults born in the Baby Boomer era spanning from 1946 to 1964.
In contrast, those belonging to Gen Z were the least concerned about this issue — only 28% of them. As this demographic refers to individuals who were 8–23 years old, they probably were not fully aware of internet dangers.
7. Identity theft is one of the most popular privacy concerns with technology worldwide.
The most common type of data breaches that might occur online is identity theft. With many online platforms and services asking for users’ personal information, you should be careful when giving your data. In an updated survey, identity theft accounts for 65% of the data breach incidents from all over the world.
Find out how to deter identity theft.
8. Google received around 40,000 information requests from federal government agencies January–June 2020.
(Los Angeles Times)
Out of them, over 15,500 were subpoenas. Generally speaking, federal agencies can request personal information from online platforms for legitimate reasons.
An example of that is when a federal service needs a specific individual or group’s online data to proceed with the investigation.
9. Internet privacy statistics show that 34% of US users feel uncomfortable with tech corporations sharing their location data with the government during the pandemic.
Numerous digital programs and innovations have been made to help during the pandemic. One such example is government agencies keeping track of individuals’ location data.
However, around 34% of digital users in the US feel very uncomfortable with tech corporations sharing their location with government agencies, while only 12% feel very comfortable with it.
10. According to internet privacy statistics, 79% of Americans don’t believe that companies will take responsibility in case of data misuse.
(Pew Research Center)
Although data breach incidents can be prevented, they might be inevitable for many corporations. In such scenarios, the company should take responsibility and ensure the privacy of its customers. Approximately 79% of digital consumers located in the US don’t entirely trust tech companies. It is mostly applicable to data misuse situations.
Global Privacy Concerns Statistics
The issue of online security is not limited only to a few countries. It is now a global matter that is taken seriously by many. Here are some stats and facts that will tell you more about internet privacy from all over the world.
11. 128 out of 194 countries have legislation to protect data and privacy.
As per Internet safety statistics, that translates to nearly 66% of countries having legislation. The primary reason for these legislations is the storing, use, and sharing of personal data to third parties without consumers’ approval.
12. Iceland has the highest percentage of internet freedom.
Internet freedom can vary depending on the country. Many parts of the world provide an open door for internet usage. For example, Iceland has the highest rating for internet freedom with 95 index points, followed by Estonia with 94 index points.
13. Australia, the US, and Italy received 76 index points for practicing internet freedom.
The data privacy statistics in 2020 show how global laws work for privacy control and internet freedom. Due to technological demands, several countries have a high Internet Freedom Index. Estonia is second on the list with 94 index points, followed by Canada and Germany with 87 and 80 points.
14. China has the least internet freedom with 10 index points.
Several parts of the world have limited the amount of internet freedom for their citizens. A stark example is China — one of the rising technological giants on the planet. According to the updated global censorship statistics and facts, China occupies the last place with 10 index points.
15. Internet users in Nigeria are most concerned about their internet privacy.
Due to the growing global concern about data privacy, many countries have raised awareness about its potential risks. According to Statista, approximately 82% of online users in Nigeria have become more concerned about their privacy than in the previous year.
16. 91.6% of internet users in Japan were concerned about online privacy in 2020.
Japan has also become one of the tech industry leaders. According to internet privacy statistics, around 91.6% of internet users from Japan expressed concern about internet privacy. Moreover, older generations had the tendency to worry more.
17. According to online privacy statistics, people in the United States, Indonesia, and Mexico are most concerned about their internet privacy due to foreign governments.
Aside from being aware of their respective country’s online privacy laws, various users have also expressed concern about potential privacy breaches by foreign governments. While it might seem far-fetched, breaches are possible risks in the rapidly developing technology era.
According to a survey, the US, Indonesia, and Mexico’s awareness rates on internet dangers statistics have increased. The US has an awareness rate of approximately 77%, Indonesia ranked with 75%, and Mexico had a total percentage of 72%.
18. India has the highest awareness rate concerning online privacy’s importance and their country’s online privacy laws.
Raising awareness about this global issue is an important task, especially in the digital transformation era. Online privacy facts show that digital users in India have the highest awareness levels of their country’s internet privacy laws.
19. In 2019, 59% of internet users in Germany were aware of their country’s internet privacy regulations.
Aside from India, other communities have also become more aware of their country’s online privacy regulations. According to the internet and social media safety statistics from 2019, around 59% of online users in Germany were aware of internet privacy rules and regulations in their country.
20. 52% of female internet users in the US expressed concern about their data security.
Women generally spend more time on the Web and use social media for personal reasons. Moreover, around 52% of women in the US are concerned about their data privacy, while their male counterparts stand at 33%.
Internet Safety Facts and Statistics
The risks of browsing the internet can be prevented by employing online protective measures. To improve your online safety, you should familiarize yourself with more factual stats you can find below.
21. 74% of US internet users are concerned about online privacy.
A staggering amount of digital users from the US have become concerned about their online privacy. In an updated study about digital users’ privacy, around 74% of internet users in the US expressed their worries about their internet privacy rights.
22. 33% of US internet users partially understand their country’s law about online privacy.
(Pew Research Center)
If the lack of awareness about this serious topic is not remedied, it can lead to potential privacy issues in the future. As can be seen in an up-to-date review of internet privacy issues from 2019, only 33% of internet users from the US have obtained general or in-depth knowledge about their country’s laws and regulations about data privacy.
23. 9% of US internet users think that digital privacy is not real.
While it is a growing issue that demands global attention, some individuals choose not to believe in it. In a survey about social media safety, 9% of US internet users believe that online privacy is a myth.
24. According to privacy invasion statistics, identity theft and fraud are the most prominent internet privacy concerns in the US.
As mentioned before, identity theft and fraud are the most concerning privacy issues in the US. Obtaining general or in-depth knowledge about data privacy laws can help you protect your sensitive information from data breaches.
25. Only 23% of US internet users trust social media ads.
Social media privacy statistics show that not a lot of internet users in the United States feel safe on social media. Although social media has become a space for everything, including advertisements, clicking on a suspicious link can pose a risk to your online safety. It seems that a great percentage of internet users in the US think in the same way, as only 23% of them put their trust in ads on social media.
26. Privacy statistics show that only 33% of internet users frequently change their passwords.
One of the protective actions you can take for maintaining online safety is frequently changing your passwords. It is recommended that you change your passwords at least once in three months.
However, not everyone follows this word of advice. As stated in a recent study conducted on internet users worldwide, only 33% of global online users frequently change their passwords.
27. Online safety statistics show that 45% of internet users worldwide avoid opening emails from unknown sources.
Unknown email addresses are also considered online risks, and many internet users agree on a global scale. According to recent statistics, around 45% of online users worldwide avoid opening suspicious email messages.
28. 41% of worldwide users disclose less personal data on the internet.
Approximately 41% of digital users worldwide decided to share less personal data on the internet. As said before, maintaining privacy can also be about sustaining control. You have to think twice before clicking on an online post and be careful about sharing your details.
29. Cookies and internet privacy stats show that 16% of internet users worldwide don’t take any protective measures online.
Global awareness about online privacy has increased and gained momentum in recent years and is expected to continue growing. However, many users are either unaware of or not paying attention to online risks. Around 16% of digital users worldwide do not implement any protective measures for protecting their personal data.
30. According to internet safety statistics, only 36% of internet users worldwide have an antivirus program.
Installing an antivirus program is probably one of the necessary steps in online protection. It prevents data breaching viruses from attacking your computer system where private and personal data might be stored. However, only 36% of people worldwide have an antivirus program installed on their computers.
The internet potential is vast and sometimes unknown. While it is mostly used for communication, entertainment, and other purposes, it can also be a space for privacy risks caused by online perpetrators, as stated in the recent stats of internet privacy. That is why you can use advanced and straightforward methods to protect your online experience.
Some ways of doing so are updating your passwords as frequently as you can or perhaps consider using a password locker and manager. Double-checking the web pages you visit and the email messages you open can also help. The worldwide demand for increased data security has become a significant motivator for tech corporations to step up, which means you should contribute as well.
People Also Ask
As almost everything has become digital nowadays, it might be unavoidable to share personal data online. This is usually the case when registering on an online platform.
If we try to find out how much personal data is on the Web, we should consider the total sum of data held by all the big online storage companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft. It is estimated that these companies store at least 1.2 million terabytes of data.
However, that figure excludes other big providers like Dropbox, Barracuda, and SugarSync, so the numbers are actually much higher.
Like many actions in life, browsing the Web can bear potential risks. However, these risks can be prevented. Social media privacy facts show that social media users from the US have taken online protective measures very seriously.
Examples of such are the following:
– Updating online accounts and passwords
– Using the best antivirus program
– Checking the web pages they visit to see if they are verified
– Limiting the personal information shared on the internet
Privacy on the Web is an essential factor to consider, especially if you want a safe experience online. An excellent antivirus program can make all the difference. If you have some privacy issues with social media, it can prevent hacking your accounts and obtaining personal data. It also enables you to digitize your daily tasks, such as shopping, without worrying about data privacy.
Privacy issues are an important concern for many users. Around 75% of people in the US care about online privacy. This percentage is expected to grow in the next few years, as digitalization takes over everything.
However, the primary interest in this topic may vary depending on the user demographic. According to internet privacy stats, baby boomers are most concerned about online privacy. In contrast, young individuals from Generation Z are least concerned about data privacy.
US users agree that online privacy is vital in the modern age. However, various external factors might affect the level of privacy a digital consumer can attain.
As statistics about internet privacy show, several countries have limited internet freedom, leading to less user privacy protection. On the other hand, tech companies are on the fast advancement track. Major corporations have stepped up and launched security protocols for their consumers.
Attaining internet privacy doesn’t have to be a complicated process. For the most part, taking a few precautionary steps is all you need to ensure your data security. An example of that is the simple act of thinking twice before clicking on an unreliable link.
Increasing your awareness by checking internet privacy statistics can also be a huge help. This in-depth article has provided a complete lowdown on risk and prevention strategies you can employ.