Transparency and Choice Needed to Address Growing UK Online Privacy Concerns and Maintain Consumer Trust

LONDON, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The latest TRUSTe privacy research published today, shows that UK consumer concern about online privacy is growing, with 94% of consumers worried about it and 54% more concerned than a year ago. The survey shows that the impact on businesses could be significant with consumers engaging less with companies they don't trust, but there is also evidence that transparency and consumer choice can improve favourability.

The TRUSTe 2012 UK Consumer Data Privacy Study was conducted online by Harris Interactive from 31 May to 6 June, just after enforcement of the EU Cookie Directive began. The research findings will be launched at the TRUSTe Data Privacy Summit in London today where representatives from global brands, publishers, advertisers, law firms and regulators are meeting to consider how best to manage data privacy and the potential impact of the research findings on UK businesses.

The headline findings on UK consumer attitudes to online privacy are:

• 94% of consumers worry about their online privacy - 54% are more concerned than one year ago
• 27% of consumers are more concerned with mobile privacy than website privacy
• Consumers engage less with companies they do not trust - leading to lower purchases (29%), app downloads (68%) and sharing of information (86%)
• Consumers believe advertisers, publishers and ad networks are all responsible for safeguarding their privacy, but trust themselves most

TRUSTe's research also highlights that transparency is key if businesses are to address these concerns. For example, 79% of consumers are aware of online behavioural advertising (OBA), 53% do not like it and 42% believe that personally identifiable information (PII) is attached to tracking activity. However favourability towards this kind of advertising almost doubles when consumers are assured that any data that could identify them personally is not used.

Consumers also reward companies for good privacy practices with 51% more inclined to click on an advertisement that gives them the option to opt out of online behavioural advertising and 55% are more inclined to do business with publishers and advertisers that give them the option to opt-out.

Advertisers can increase favourability by 42% through participation in the EDAA self-regulation programme and businesses can increase trust and engagement through independent privacy certification schemes. 60% of UK consumers said they checked for independent verification of privacy standards. The research shows that TRUSTe is the most familiar UK privacy brand with one in two UK consumers recognising the green TRUSTe certified privacy seal.

Speaking in London ahead of TRUSTe's Data Privacy Summit, Chris Babel, CEO TRUSTe said:

"The recent EU Cookie Directive has put third party tracking and online behavioural advertising under the spotlight in the UK and forced advertisers, publishers and brands to consider their data privacy practices and how they communicate these to their consumers.

Although our research shows that consumer concern in the UK is growing, it is reassuring to see how positively consumers respond to advertisers who adopt self-regulation schemes such as the EDAA programme and seek out businesses that demonstrate a commitment to good privacy practices through an independent privacy certification programme.

At TRUSTe we are committed, through our research programme and events such as the Data Privacy Summit in London today, to providing the consumer insight and solutions that businesses need to adapt to the constantly changing privacy and compliance landscape and ensure they remain ahead of the curve."

TRUSTe has recently launched five data privacy certification solutions in the UK for websites, mobile sites, mobile apps, and data collection. For more details go to http://truste.com/about-TRUSTe/press-room/news_truste_lauches_new_data_privacy_certifications

Notes to Editors

1 TRUSTe is the leading global provider of online privacy management solutions for business, offering a broad suite of technologies and certifications to help companies build trust and increase engagement across their online channels, including websites, mobile apps, advertising, and cloud services. Over 5,000 companies, including top international brands like Apple, eBay, LinkedIn and Microsoft, rely on TRUSTe to build trust and address evolving and complex privacy challenges. TRUSTe's green Certified Privacy Seal is widely recognised and trusted by millions of consumers worldwide as a sign of responsible privacy practices. For additional information on TRUSTe please visit http://www.truste.co.uk

2 The TRUSTe 2012 UK Consumer Data Privacy Study was conducted online by Harris Interactive, on behalf of TRUSTe among a total of 1,027 UK adults aged 18 and older from the Harris Interactive Online Consumer Panel. The interviews were conducted from 31 May to 6 June 2012 via a self-administered online survey, averaging 19 minutes in length. Complete survey methodologies, including weighting variables and significance notations are available on request. To view the TRUSTe 2012 UK Consumer Data Privacy Study go to: http://www.truste.com/british-consumer-data-privacy-study

3 The TRUSTe Data Privacy Summit is taking place at The Hospital Club on 11 July 2012 with delegates from global brands, publishers and advertisers alongside regulators and compliance/privacy experts. Speakers include the Association of Online Publishers, BBC, DataGuidance, Exelate, Havas Digital, Information Commissioner's Office, IDG, and Promontory. For further details of this and future TRUSTe events see: http://www.truste.co.uk/eu-privacy-resources

For TRUSTe UK media enquiries and interview requests please contact Eleanor Treharne-Jones at The Conversation Company on +44(0)7811-093648 or +44(0)20-7812-0664 or e-mail eleanor@theconversationco.com