Internet users are increasingly concerned about their online privacy, and that 49 percent of users polled say lack of trust is their main reason for not shopping online, it is suggested.
A survey was by Ipsos and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Internet Society, suggesting say its authors that the resulting impact on trust is hindering further development of the digital economy.
Released at the UNCTAD E-Commerce Week in Geneva, the 2017 CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey on Internet Security & Trust suggests that among those worried about their privacy, the top sources of concern were cybercriminals (82pc), Internet companies (74pc) and governments (65pc).
Director of CIGI’s Global Security & Politics program Fen Osler Hampson, said: “The lifeblood of the Internet is trust, and when that is damaged, the consequences for the digital economy are nearly irreparable. The results of this global survey offer a glimpse into why policymakers should be concerned, and why there is a strong link between user trust and the health of e-commerce.”
Lack of trust is most likely to keep people off e-commerce platforms in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, suggesting that the potential gains of e-commerce are not spread evenly around the globe. The survey also found differences in e-commerce behaviour in how users are buying goods online. For example, in China, India and Indonesia, more than 86 percent of respondents expect to make mobile payments on their smartphone in the next year, compared with less than 30 percent in France, Germany and Japan.
Even in the digital world, location still matters. More than half, 55 percent of global respondents indicated that they prefer purchasing online goods and services made in their own country.
Shamika N Sirimanne, Director of UNCTAD’s Division on Technology and Logistics, said: “The survey confirms the importance of having adequate consumer protection and data protection in place, areas where many developing countries are lagging behind. More capacity-building is therefore urgently needed.”
“Nearly 50 percent of Internet users surveyed do not trust the Internet and this lack of trust is affecting the way they use it. The findings of this year’s CIGI-Ipsos survey underscore the importance of taking action now to build stronger online trust by addressing users’ concerns and using technologies such as encryption to secure communications,” said Sally Wentworth, Vice President of Global Policy for the Internet Society.
About the survey
The survey of 24,225 internet users was by research company Ipsos, on behalf of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) between December 23, 2016, and March 21, 2017. The survey was conducted in 24 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States. Visit: www.cigionline.org/internet-survey.
