UK internet users want to be informed of data losses

Survey findings provide further evidence that the public want a US-style data breach notification law

Most UK residents want to be informed if their personal data is lost or stolen after a corporate security breach, the latest E-Communications Household Survey from the European Commission (EC) has revealed.

Eighty-four percent of UK respondents said they would want to receive information of a breach resulting in data losses. Three-quarters of this group wanted to be informed in any circumstance, while a further nine percent only wanted to be made aware if the lost or stolen data put them at risk of financial damages.

Only 10 percent of UK respondents said they would not want to hear about personal data losses in any circumstances.

The study of 27,000 households across Europe highlights that people in the UK are more concerned about obtaining data breach details than other Europeans: just over 75 percent of all respondents said they would want to be informed of loss or theft of their personal data.

The results could provide further evidence of the need for US-style data breach notification rules to be rolled out in the UK and across Europe.

Under the Security Breach Notification Act, US government agencies and businesses are required to inform state residents if a security breach occurs that leads to their personal data being exposed. As of January 2007, 35 US states had introduced the legislation.

High-profile data breaches such as that at US retailer TJX, which owns UK discount store chain TK Maxx, have led to predictions from some security experts that the UK will follow suit and introduce its own version of the breach notification laws in an attempt to enforce better security controls across organisations and better protect individuals.

Requests from internet users to be informed about security breaches resulting in data losses, as indicated by the results of the EC study, could put further pressure on the UK and other governments to legislate in this area.

The E-Communications Household Survey also revealed that 28 percent of respondents with internet access had had significant problems dealing with spam and viruses. The most common consequences of attacks were a significant decrease in performance, a computer breakdown and receiving offensive emails.

Despite the problems caused by spam and viruses, only a third of internet users had purchased antivirus software, while only a fifth had bought some form of anti-spam protection. Many preferred to make use of free software instead, while others relied on their ISP for protection.