MOSCOW, December 01, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing the attitudes of Russians towards the use of their personal data on the Internet.
Most Russians are active Internet users: 70% use the Internet on a daily basis; 13% occasionally; and 17% do not use it at all. Russians are aware of online personal data processing: more than two-thirds of respondents (68%) know that online platforms collect personal data. Every second respondent (52%) is interested to know what the purpose of personal data processing is. However, almost one–third of Russians (29%) show no interest in the topic.
Sixty percent of Russians read online services terms (13% of them pay a special attention to it); 22% of respondents ignore them. However, 32% of Russians give consent to personal data processing to access online services; 45% are likely to refuse to give consent to access services.
More than half of Russians (59%) are aware of personal data transfer to third parties; 70% of Russians perceive it negatively; only 2% are indifferent. At the same time, 58% of respondents believe that sharing personal data with third parties may threat them personally. Twenty-one percent of Russians think there is no threat. Those aged 18-34 are less likely to be anxious about personal data transfer to third parties (33-40% say there is no threat at all). Those who are most likely to be worried about this problem are persons aged 35-49 (66-72% say there is such threat).
Most of Russians favor the idea to introduce amendments to the personal data law. Withdrawing consent to personal data processing under a simplified procedure and making online services providers delete personal data within three days is supported by 62% of respondents. Higher data breach fines imposed on online services providers are approved by 58% of Russians.
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on November 25, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Do you use the Internet? If so, how often? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
Almost every day | 70 |
Occasionally | 13 |
Never | 17 |
Online services, such as websites, social media, search engines, may collect personal data upon your consent. Do you know /have you heard/do you hear for the first time about that? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
I am aware, I heard about it | 68 |
This is the first time I hear about it | 15 |
Don’t know | 0 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 |
Are you interested or not interested to know why online services use your personal data? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
Definitely interested | 24 |
Likely interested | 28 |
Unlikely interested | 15 |
Not at all interested | 14 |
Don’t know | 1 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 |
Online services must inform the visitors of personal data collection and privacy policy. Do you tend to read the terms deeply or skim the text? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
Usually deep reading | 13 |
Usually skim reading | 47 |
Usually I do not read them | 22 |
Don’t know | 0 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 |
Imagine the following situation. You need to access an online service or app but you have to give your consent to personal data processing to access the service. What will you most likely do? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
Likely to give my consent to use the service/app | 32 |
Likely not to give my consent to use the service/app, likely to refuse to use the service/app | 45 |
Don’t know | 6 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 |
Are you aware that the personal data you gave access to can be transferred and used by third parties? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
I am aware | 59 |
This is the first time I hear about it | 22 |
Don’t know | 1 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 |
What is your general opinion on sharing the personal data that you transfer to online services with third parties? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
Favorably | 2 |
Unfavorably | 70 |
Indifferent | 10 |
Don’t know | 1 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 |
Do you think that using your personal data by third parties can threaten you and your family, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| % of total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Definitely yes | 25 | 25 | 24 | 32 | 29 | 17 |
Likely yes | 33 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 37 | 22 |
Likely not | 16 | 28 | 27 | 16 | 12 | 9 |
Definitely not | 5 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Don’t know | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 46 |
Today a number of proposals concerning the personal data law are being discussed. In particular, State Duma deputies proposed to give people the right to withdraw their consent to personal data processing under a simplified procedure. In this case, the online service must delete your personal data within three days. What is your attitude towards this initiative? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
Favorable | 62 |
Unfavorable | 5 |
Indifferent | 13 |
Don’t know | 3 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 |
What is your attitude towards the initiative to increase data breach fines imposed on online services? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| % of total respondents |
Favorable | 58 |
Unfavorable | 7 |
Indifferent | 15 |
Don’t know | 2 |
Those who did not answer the question | 17 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.