European consumers split on data privacy issues

The research, published by Unisys, found that while 81 per cent of UK customers believe an organisation’s ability to secure their data is a key trust-building attribute, just 42 per cent of French, 40 per cent of Belgians and a third of German consumers have the same view.

“This research illustrates that there is still a distinct lack of awareness among consumers in many European countries about the value of having their personal data protected,” said Rene Head, head of enterprise security in continental Europe at Unisys, in a statement.

According to the report, three-quarters of British consumers believe dependable IT is fundamental in building their trust, compared with an average of 42 per cent of users in continental Europe.

It also revealed that 82 per cent of people in the UK think it is acceptable for banks, credit card companies and government bodies to use biometrics to verify identity.

“There is a great opportunity here for business to win consumer trust by driving home the benefits of technology and security and we in the IT community have a role to play in that process,” Head added.

The study questioned 3,669 consumers across eight European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Holland.