Nearly 8 in 10 Canadians worried about online privacy

According to a recent survey conducted by Interac, nearly eight in 10 Canadians worry about protecting their online privacy and more than seven in 10 want more control over their digital data. Canadians are concerned about the integrity of their personal information, including how, where and why it is being used, according to Giles Sutherland, vice president of business development at Interac. It is well known that the pandemic shifted consumer interactions from in-person to the digital realm. He says that the shift has had a lasting impact on Canadians perceptions and behaviours. Sutherland explains that only six per cent of Canadians believe that the data organizations have collected about them is being used solely for its intended purpose. Most Canadians believe that the personal information they share online is being used for nefarious reasons. This could include tracking their location, manipulating their beliefs, or even attempting to steal their identity.

Consumers want more control over their information, and who can blame them? Sutherland says that many of us are faced with fraud attempts or see related news, week in and week out, at a time when more of what we do takes place online. There is a desire among the Canadian public for more information and tools to protect their personal information. More than half of Canadians believe that organizations are responsible for protecting sensitive information online, according to the Interac survey. The secure methods of user sign-in are pivotal, with nearly seven in 10 Canadians prepared to hold organizations accountable in the event of a data breach. Colette Stewart, senior legal counsel and privacy lead at Interac says it is clear from our study that we need to put user privacy at the heart of the discussion as organizations are contemplating the digital customer journey. User sign-in — the act of verifying your identity to access online services or activities — is a critical moment in the online experience for organizations to build trust with their customers. It is a simple process that Canadians undergo every day, perhaps without much thought. It deserves attention, especially among public and private sector organizations that want to balance a convenient login process with rigorous security. Control and convenience need not be conflicting One in 10 Canadians trust social media accounts to keep their personal information, and six in 10 use those accounts to log in to other online services. Because many organizations today don't offer solutions that are both trusted and convenient, forcing Canadians to choose between the two.