The Information Commissioner’s Office has revealed in a survey that 80% of people are concerned about protecting their personal information online.
Research commissioned by the ICO has also found that 96% of individuals surveyed are concerned that organisations do not keep their details secure, and a further 60% believe that they have lost control of the way their personal information is collected and processed.
In a move to mark European Data Protection Day, Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, supported by Lord McNally, Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, is urging people to take more care on social networking sites, to think before giving out their personal details online, and to understand what to do when things go wrong.
Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, said:
It’s never been more important to protect your personal information. Whether you’re surfing the net, shopping online or signing up to social networking sites, it’s crucial that people are thinking about how their information might be used.
From employers looking up potential employees on Facebook to cyber criminals hacking into unsecured wifi networks, not protecting your personal information can cause serious harm and distress. European Data Protection Day is about motivating people to regain control of their right to privacy. I hope people of all ages across the UK will do just that.
A personal information toolkit is available on the ICO website here:
Personal Information Toolkit
