| For Immediate Release: | CONTACT: | Holly Anderson, ext. 114 |
| October 4, 2000 | Carol McKay, ext.116 | |
| (202) 835-3323 | ||
NCL Forms New Partnership with Dell to Educate
Consumers about
Privacy, Security, and Children’s Safety Online
WASHINGTON, DC—Consumers
are worried about their privacy and security online, according to a new Harris
Interactive survey commissioned by the National Consumers League with the
support of Dell. In fact, more Americans say they are very concerned about loss
of personal privacy (56 percent) than health care (54 percent), crime (53
percent), and taxes (52 percent).
In response to this and other concerns highlighted by the survey, NCL and Dell
have formed a partnership to help educate consumers about privacy, security, and
their children’s safety online. “Concern about not having control of their
personal information keeps consumers from taking full advantage of everything
that the Internet offers,” said Susan Grant, vice president of public policy
for NCL. “They need to know their rights and how they can protect their
privacy and safety in the online world.”
That information is now available through a new page on the NCL Web
site, www.nclnet.org
/essentials and a brochure distributed through NCL and in Dell’s consumer
computer boxes. “Dell has a long history of advocating consumer interests,
especially online privacy,” said John Hamlin, vice president of Dell’s
consumer division. “Companies like Dell, with direct customer relationships
and a large and growing Internet business, know that consumers will only use a
medium they can trust. This survey shows that our industry has more work to do
in earning consumer trust and in equipping consumers with the essential
information they need to control and make the most of their experience on the
Internet. As an online leader, Dell is committed to helping consumers be more
confident about Internet use.”
When
asked specifically about their online privacy, survey respondents said they were
most worried about Web sites providing their personal information to others
without their knowledge (64 percent) and Web sites collecting information about
them without their knowledge (59 percent). This issue resurfaced when consumers
responded to questions about online privacy policies. When asked how important
they thought it was that companies adopt and communicate various privacy
policies, 71 percent said it is absolutely essential that companies ask
consumers’ permission before using their personal information for any purpose
other than the one originally given.
In
general, consumers are more aware and trusting of companies’ privacy policies
than they were in 1998. Ninety percent have seen a privacy notice, up from 37 in
1998, and 91 percent trust companies somewhat or completely to follow their
policies, up from 67 percent in 1998. A majority of consumers are reading
privacy policies at least sometimes and believe it is absolutely essential for
the sites they visit to tell them how their personal information will be used.
Two-thirds (65 percent) say that if a site doesn’t explain its privacy policy,
they’ll continue to browse, but won’t provide any personal information.
Consumers
are most worried about the security of their financial information online, with
53 percent afraid that their financial or other sensitive information may be
stolen during transmission to a Web site. Other top security fears included:
receiving a computer virus (47 percent), and hackers stealing their customer
information from a company database (35 percent).
Nearly
one quarter of online consumers have not purchased products or services online
in the last year, citing fears about their credit card numbers being stolen (57
percent) and concern that their personal information may be abused (57 percent)
as the top reasons why. For all online consumers, it is most important that
credit card numbers are protected online (88 percent) followed by social
security numbers (85 percent), information about financial assets (74 percent),
and contact information like name and address (61 percent).
“Consumers
are definitely worried about using their credit cards online, but only three
percent have actually had their financial information stolen by someone while
transmitting it to a Web site,” said Grant. “If we can educate consumers
about how to pay safely online, we can help alleviate those concerns.” Most
consumers (66 percent) said they had not been victims of privacy or security
breaches online. The most common problem people actually had online was getting
a computer virus (28 percent).
Concern
about child safety and privacy online is high. The biggest fears were about
undesirable characters being able to reach their children (69 percent) and
personal information being collected about kids without their parents' knowledge
(65 percent). Thirteen percent of parents with children 8-18 don’t allow them
to go online at home, with 33 percent believing they are not old enough and 30
percent worried about their safety.
Of
the children who do go online at home, 58 percent aren’t supervised by adults,
and only 29 percent of parents use software to limit or restrict their
children’s access to certain sites or content on the Internet. “This
indicates that parents need to take a more active role in ensuring their
children’s online safety and privacy,” said Grant.
When tested on their knowledge about online security and privacy rights,
consumers proved there’s still much education needed on these issues. More
than half (53 percent) believe that there is no way to tell if a Web site is
secure and 34 percent incorrectly think it’s illegal for Web sites to share or
sell personal information unless the consumer is notified and agrees. Eighteen
percent are unaware that it’s illegal for sites to collect information from
children under 13 without their parents’ explicit permission. Nine percent
think Web sites must be certified as secure by the government.
“The survey shows many areas where consumers need more information,”
said Susan Grant. “We want to arm consumers with information to help make
their online experiences safer and address their privacy concerns.”
Consumers can send away for a free brochure at Online E-ssentials, PO BOX 8797,
St. Louis, MO 63101or download the brochure online at www.nclnet.org/essentials.
The Web page also has expanded information about privacy and security, and links
to other resources.
This Harris Interactive survey was conducted via the Harris Poll Online,
within the United States, from August 30 - 31, 2000. The poll was conducted
among 2,810 aged 18 or over. The national sample was designed to be
representative of adults aged 18 or over who are online. Figures for age within
gender, race, education, region, and income were weighted where necessary to
bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.
In theory, with a sample of this size and after weighting the data, one
can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision
of plus or minus 2 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult
online population of the United States had been polled with complete accuracy.
However, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or
surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling
error. They include question wording and question order, non-response, and
screening. It is difficult or impossible to quantify the errors that may result
from these factors.
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is
America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to identify, protect,
represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and
workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more
information about NCL, visit www.nclnet.org,
or email info@nclnet.org
Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq: DELL) is the world's leading direct
computer systems company, based on revenues of $28.5 billion for the past four
quarters, and is a premier provider of products and services required for
customers to build their Internet infrastructures. The company ranks No. 56 on
the Fortune 500, No. 154 on the Fortune Global 500 and No. 3 on the Fortune
“most admired” lists of companies. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes
products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive
selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can
be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.dell.com.
Members of the media can reach Dell at 512-728-4100.
###