ICO: UK residents see increase in scam and fraud calls, but trust in data security is unchanged

Awareness of the importance of data is rising: three-quarters of respondents said an organisation should be held responsible if they lose user data

People in the UK are struggling to control the use of their personal information, despite being aware that protecting their personal data is important.

That's according to an annual tracking survey (Information Rights Strategic Plan: Trust and Confidence) commissioned by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to gauge public opinion on the transfer and use of personal data to public and private sector organisations.

The research [pdf], based on a sample of 2,102 adult respondents, was carried out between 6th and 18th May 2021.

It found that the use of peoples' personal information for scams or fraud is a major concern. Half of the respondents said they now receive more unwanted marketing calls than they did 12 months ago.

Less than a third of respondents (28 per cent) said they had high trust and confidence in organisations and firms storing and using their personal information. A similar proportion (29 per cent) said they had low confidence.

Trust was higher (39 per cent) among 18-34 year-olds than those aged 35-54 (29 per cent), and 55+ (18 per cent).

The study also revealed that people's trust in organisations/companies storing their data remained 'largely stable' in 2021 compared with the last year.

Three-quarters of participants said that a company or organisation holding data should be 'held responsible' if users' information is lost or stolen in a data breach.

Six in 10 people said they had 'low trust' in social media and messaging platforms. Health providers, however, continue to be held in high regard, with 75 per cent people showing high trust in the NHS. Only 7 per cent gave the organisation a net low.

Trust in local GPs was also highly rated (72 per cent positive), followed by the police (58 per cent), national government organisations (55 per cent), financial services (55 per cent) and local government (49 per cent.)

The survey results come amid growing allegations that senior officials within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) used private emails to discuss sensitive government business. The ICO has already announced an inquiry into the matter, warning that it could lead to a criminal prosecution.

The Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, wrote in a blog post that transparency was fundamental to democracy, and that the idea of "ministers and senior officials using private correspondence channels, such as private email accounts, to conduct sensitive official business is a concerning one".

"It concerns the public to feel there may be a loss of transparency about decisions affecting them and their loved ones," she said.

"And as the regulator of data protection and freedom of information laws, it concerns me."