7 September 2021. In cooperation with the Big Data Association VCIOM presents the findings of a survey devoted to the attitudes of Russians towards personal data collection, use and protection.
Technologies and new digital trends increase the volume of personal data transfer when accessing services and performing operations. Therefore, Russians regularly have to share personal data both when dealing directly with state agencies and private sector organizations and when using online services.
Most of Russians who have shared their personal data over the recent year did so for the following reasons: to get bank services (49%), to enable geolocation (46%), to register with state agencies’ websites (45%); to request home delivery service or to share personal information in social media (38% each, respectively).
More than a third of Russians (37%) have no idea what for and how their personal data are used. More than half of respondents (62%) are aware to one degree or another of the personal data use purposes (72-76% of young persons; 46-62% of older respondents). Only 15% of those who are aware say they know exactly how the data are used; 47% heard something but do not know any details.
Young Russians (aged 18-34) can differentiate well the purposes of personal data collection by state agencies. About 53-56% of respondents aged 18-34 consider that state agencies mainly use them to identify a person.
Russians aged 25-44 are more informed about the personal data use purposes of private companies. Older age groups say those reasons are a better product offer or service quality assessment (50-55%).
Younger audiences are more likely to realize that commercial companies use aggregated data to evaluate the quality of services they provide (40-50% of young respondents vs 24-45% of older respondents) or for scientific purposes (7-10% of young respondents vs 4% of older respondents).
When asked to assess personal data safety using a 1-7 scale, with 7 being “fully secure” and 1 being “not at all secure”, most of respondents showed highest levels of trust towards state-owned institutions and banks. On average, assessing the data safety Russians gave 5 out of 7 scores to “submitting documents at state agencies” (6 given by the 18-24-year-olds), and 5 out of 7 to “signing an agreement with a bank” (5.5 given by the 18-24-year-olds).
Young Russians equally agree to transfer their personal data to state agencies and to private companies: every second Russian aged 18-24 considers that both types of institutions provide personal data safety (51% gave 7 scores to state agencies; 47% gave 7 scores to banks). Older respondents give lower scores. Only 30% of the 35-44-year-olds gave the highest score to data transfer safety when dealing with state agencies; 26%, when dealing with banks.
Besides that, young respondents aged 18-24 are more likely to consider that their personal data are kept safe than older Russians. One in two respondents aged 18-24 (47%) say that their personal data are protected; this opinion is shared by 23% of the sample mean (11% of Russians aged 60 and older).
Young Russians are more likely to consider “personal negligence” and “not enough advanced technologies” to be the main reasons for data leaks than other age groups (24% vs 15% of all the Russians; 23% vs 13% of the sample mean). Half of Russians (50%) believe that the key reason for data leakage is misuse of the data collected by the party that has access to them (40% among the 18-24-year-olds).
The nationwide survey is commissioned by the Big Data Association and conducted on July 9, 2021. A total of 1,606 Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Method: telephone interviews using a stratified dual-frame random sample of landline and mobile phone numbers from the full list of telephone numbers operating in Russia. 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 2.6%. 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.
Which of the following activities have you done at least once over the recent year? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of total respodnents) | |
Total respondents | |
I received bank services (loan, salary card) | 49 |
I enabled geolocation when using GPS navigators, apps, programs, websites | 46 |
I registered with state agencies’ websites (f.e. Gosuslugi) | 45 |
I ordered delivery home (foods, goods)) | 38 |
I shared information on social media (f.e., posted my vacation, workplace photos) | 38 |
I registered with social media, messengers, forums | 35 |
I filled in the form to get a discount card in a shop/pharmacy | 35 |
I signed the agreement when buying something/ getting a service | 32 |
I gave consent to cookies when using a website | 28 |
I filled in the documents to be employed / to study | 25 |
None | 15 |
Don’t know | 0 |
Are you well aware/have you heard /or do you not know what the data collected are used for? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | Ages 25-34 | Ages 35-44 | Ages 45-59 | Ages 60 +е | |
Yes, I am well aware | 15 | 13 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 9 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 47 | 63 | 53 | 47 | 47 | 37 |
I know nothing about that | 37 | 24 | 28 | 31 | 38 | 53 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
In your opinion, what are the reasons why primarily state-owned companies use personal data? Not more than three responses (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | ||||||
Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | Ages 25-34 | Ages 35-44 | Ages 45-59 | Ages 60 + | |
To identify a person | 37 | 53 | 56 | 43 | 37 | 14 |
To simplify the provision of services | 32 | 39 | 40 | 42 | 32 | 16 |
To have control over people’s life | 26 | 19 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 20 |
To improve options, services, products | 19 | 29 | 21 | 25 | 17 | 14 |
To offer goods and services, to make quality assessment | 18 | 31 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 15 |
To illegally sell personal data | 10 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
For scientific purposes, to develop new technologies | 9 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 7 |
I know nothing about that | 18 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 33 |
Other | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Don’t know | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
In your opinion, what are the reasons why primarily private companies use personal data? Not more than three responses (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | ||||||
Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | Ages 25-34 | Ages 35-44 | Ages 45-59 | Ages 60 + | |
To offer goods and services, to make quality assessment | 42 | 40 | 50 | 55 | 45 | 24 |
To improve options, services, products | 28 | 42 | 44 | 35 | 24 | 12 |
To identify a person | 25 | 49 | 34 | 28 | 19 | 15 |
To simplify the provision of services | 20 | 30 | 30 | 22 | 20 | 11 |
To illegally sell personal data | 17 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 17 | 19 |
To have control over people’s life | 11 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 13 |
For scientific purposes, to develop new technologies | 6 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
I know nothing about that | 20 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 33 |
Other | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Don’t know | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
In your opinion, are your personal data secured in the following situations? Please, give an assessment using a seven-point scale, with 7 being “fully secured” and 1 being “not at all secured”. (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
When submitting documents at multifunctional public services center, Pension Fund, other state institutions | ||||||
Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | Ages 25-34 | Ages 35-44 | Ages 45-59 | Ages 60 + | |
Average | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
When signing an agreement with a bank | ||||||
Average | 5 | 5,5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Generally speaking, to what extent are data protected against breach/ leaks today? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | Ages 25-34 | Ages 35-44 | Ages 45-59 | Ages 60 + | |
Fully protected | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Likely to be protected | 20 | 40 | 26 | 22 | 20 | 9 |
Unlikely to be protected | 48 | 46 | 52 | 48 | 41 | 53 |
Fully unprotected | 26 | 7 | 18 | 26 | 34 | 30 |
Don’t know | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
In your opinion, what are the main reasons for personal data leaks? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | Ages 25-34 | Ages 35-44 | Ages 45-59 | Ages 60 + | |
Person’s negligent attitude to their personal data transfer | 15 | 24 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 14 |
Flows in the legislation related to personal data storage and use | 14 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 17 |
Technologies used to process and store personal data are not advanced enough | 13 | 23 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
Misuse of personal data by the party that has access to them | 49 | 40 | 52 | 54 | 53 | 44 |
Other | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Don’t know | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 11 |