Data privacy concerns soar during lockdown

Pandemics suck, I think we can all agree. Illness, isolation, money worries – and as if that wasn’t enough, we’re also worrying even more about our data privacy.

Pandemics suck, I think we can all agree. Illness, isolation, money worries – and as if that wasn’t enough, we’re also worrying even more about our data privacy.

73% of the Numerous community report increased concerns about personal data privacy during lockdown. It’s to do with the increased data collection by Government. Which probably has to happen, but it does stress people out.

When asked whether the increased collection of personal data by Government during the pandemic, including through the track and trace system, increased their fears about data privacy, 73% of the Numerous community said it did, with 36% reporting significantly increased concerns.

There are also some big fears about how the personal data collected could negatively affect their lives. When asked specifically about the potential for COVID-19-related personal data collected during the pandemic to have a negative impact on their credit score, their ability to get health or life insurance and their future employment prospects, 34% of Numerous members said they were “very concerned” about at least one of these negative consequences, with, in particular, as many as 57% being concerned (“very” or “somewhat”) that it might adversely affect their credit score.

Over half of our users “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the COVID-19 pandemic would reduce the level of personal data privacy British society enjoyed pre-pandemic.

It’s a tricky one. Since personal data is key to the successful containment of any pandemic, it’s a real problem that people are worried about sharing more personal data at this time. Some of this may stem from a general lack of trust in government, but it’s also definitely made worse by a global, opaque system of personal data collection and exploitation, dominated by the big technology companies, that makes people generally fearful about sharing data.

That’s why we need to rebuild trust in the system by collecting data transparently and creating a clear, fair and secure system of reward when people share it. We’re working hard (from home, of course!) to make this happen.