A Harris Interactive poll released on Feb. 19 shows that most consumers don’t trust companies—online or offline—with their personal information. Sixty-two percent of those surveyed say that independent verification of company privacy policies is the action that would most satisfy them, while 84% say that such verification should be a requirement.
Respondents rate their top concerns over personal information privacy as follows:
* 75% worry that the companies with which they do business will provide their information to other companies without permission.
* 70% are concerned that their transactions won’t be secure.
* 69% fret that hackers could steal their personal data.
Among other findings, 91% say they’d do business with companies whose privacy practices are verified by a third party.
The survey, which was conducted online with 1,529 adults in November, was conducted for Privacy & American Business, a nonprofit public policy think tank, and was sponsored by Ernst & Young LLP and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.