According to a new survey of US internet users, most users worry
about busiensses and strangers getting personal data about them,
yet few take the basic steps necessary to protect against this.
The majority of those surveyed by the Pew Internet and American
Life Project said they think it is an invasion of their privacy for
businesses to monitor users' web browsing. By a two-to-one margin
they reject the argument made by some firms that web tracking can
be helpful. Pew Internet and American Life is an organisation that
exists to examine the social impact of the web.
Despite the concerns over privacy, the survey found that only
10% of users set their internet browsers to reject cookies, the
basic system used to track surfing habits. 56% of those surveyed
did not know what cookies are.
The study of over 2,000 individuals found that 86% of internet
users are in favor of "opt-in" privacy policies that require
internet companies to ask people for permission to use their
personal information. Pew says this view challenges the policy just
negotiated by the Clinton Administration, the Federal Trade
Commission and a consortium of Web advertisers, which gives web
sites the right to track internet users unless the users take steps
to "opt out" of being monitored.
54% of internet users believe that web sites' tracking of users
is harmful because it invades their privacy. Just 27% say tracking
is helpful because it allows the sites to provide information
tailored to specific consumers.
