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SAS Survey: 67 percent of US consumers think government should do more to protect data privacyCARY, N.C., Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With the recent implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by the European Union (EU) and a steady stream of news about data privacy, it's no surprise that a SAS survey found that US consumers are increasingly concerned about their personal data. Of 525 US adult consumers surveyed, almost three-fourths (73 percent) said their concern over the privacy of personal data has increased in the past few years. What is perhaps surprising: US consumers appear ready for regulation. Sixty-seven percent of survey participants think the US government should do more to protect data privacy. And the new Congress seems poised to explore federal regulation. "The survey results clearly show that consumers value their data privacy and are greatly concerned about potential misuse. Companies need to reexamine how they handle data and analytics in all aspects of the business," said Todd Wright, Global Lead for GDPR Solutions at SAS, a leader in analytics. "It's clear that in this age of increased data privacy concerns, even without a more stringent data privacy law in the US, organizations that treat their customers' data with care will be rewarded, and those that don't risk the loss of reputation and customers." Download the full report, Data Privacy: Are You Concerned? Taking action More than one-third of survey participants (38 percent) reported using social media less often because of data privacy concerns. Does the US want GDPR? Do US consumers want these rights? Of survey participants who think the US needs more data privacy regulation, a largemajority (83 percent) would like the right to tell an organization not to share or sell their personal information. Eighty percent of these consumers also want the right to know where and to whom their data is being sold. Seventy-three percent said they would like the right to ask an organization how their data is being used, and 64 percent would like the right to have their data deleted or erased. US states are already reacting to this wave of concern from citizens, and Congress is starting to take note. California recently passed legislation similar to GDPR that will take effect in 2020, and Vermont became the first state to enact a law regulating data brokers who buy and sell personal information. In September, the US Senate held its first committee meeting on how lawmakers can protect consumer privacy, and in early November, Sen. Ron Wyden proposed the Consumer Data Privacy Act, a bill similar to GDPR that would penalize CEOs in addition to the companies. "These state laws are likely the beginning of US legislation," said Lisa Loftis, a thought leader on the SAS customer intelligence team. "Organizations are still wrestling with existing regulations like GDPR, and new regulations like a US government data privacy law could prove challenging." A SAS survey conducted just months before the onset of GDPR found that 93 percent of global organizations that participated in the survey were not fully GDPR compliant. Baby boomers most concerned Confidence by industry Social media was the least trusted, with only 14 percent expressing the same confidence. Travel companies (16 percent), retail (18 percent), internet/cable providers (20 percent), energy companies (21 percent), and government agencies (29 percent) were also rated low. For the complete survey findings, download the full report, Data Privacy: Are You Concerned? Next Steps Survey methodology About SAS SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2018 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sas-survey-67-percent-of-us-consumers-think-government-should-do-more-to-protect-data-privacy-300761765.html SOURCE SAS |