Compliance Institute’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Consumer Survey findings reveal 7 in 10 people feel uncomfortable about giving personal data to providers

 

Date: 20th March 2023

The Compliance Institute, in conjunction with iReach polled 1,000 people nationwide on their attitudes towards personal data. The survey found that most Irish people (70%) feel some level of discomfort around giving their personal information away to product and service providers. Of this group half said it makes them anxious to do so, while the other half said they are very guarded and will not give personal data away unless they “absolutely have to do so”. 

 

Additional key outputs of the survey revealed that: 

• Almost half of people aged 55+ (49pc) are extremely hesitant to share details about themselves unless absolutely necessary, compared with just a quarter of people aged 25 to 34.

• Women are much more troubled by handing over their personal data than men at 77% vs. 64%.

• Just over 12% said they are least likely to trust government agencies such as HSE, Department of Social Protection, Revenue Commissioners etc. with their personal data.

• 7% claim they don’t trust banks with their data.

 

Michael Kavanagh, CEO of the Compliance Institute commented:

 

“The large volume of people expressing their reluctance to providing personal information is most likely a consequence of the many data leaks and breaches that have been given prominence  in recent Irish news stories. 

The younger generation have less reservations around providers accessing personal data, which is perhaps understandable given that they have grown up in an online world whereas the older generation are extremely hesitant to share details about themselves unless absolutely necessary.”

 

The Compliance Institute survey shone a light on the huge mistrust that exists amongst the general public around social media companies. These giants of the digital world topped the poll as the least trusted entities when it comes to guarding the personal information of users, with six in ten (56%) people regarding them as the most untrustworthy. Those aged 18-24 were significantly more likely to feel this way at 74%.

From: Techcentral.ie

Most Irish people (70%) feel some level of discomfort around giving their personal information away to product and service providers. Of this group, half say it makes them anxious to do so, while the other half say they are very guarded and will not give personal data away unless they “absolutely have to do so”.

 

Additional key outputs of Compliance Ireland’s ESG Consumer Survey revealed that women are much more troubled by handing over their personal data than men at 77% vs. 64%. Three times as many men than women don’t give it a second thought (16% v 5%).

 

Almost half of people aged 55 and over (49%) are rated as ‘extremely hesitant’ to share details about themselves unless absolutely necessary, compared with just a quarter of people aged 25 to 34.

 

Online Coverage:

Print Coverage:

  • Irish Daily Mail (see below)
  • The Avondhu (see below)
  • Marketing.ie (see below)