Snowden Leaks Prompt Internet Users Worldwide To Protect Their Data

Lucas123 writes: A new international survey of internet users from 24 countries has found that more than 39% of them have taken steps to protect their data since Edward Snowden leaked the NSA's spying practices. The survey, conducted by the Center for International Governance Innovation, found that 43% of Internet users now avoid certain websites and applications and 39% change their passwords regularly. Security expert Bruce Schneier chastised the media for trying to downplay the numbers by saying "only" 39%" have taken action and "only 60%" have heard of Snowden. The news articles, "are completely misunderstanding the data," Schneier said, pointing out that by combining data on Internet penetration with data from the international survey, it works out to 706 million people who are now taking steps to protect their online data. Additionally, two-thirds (64%) of users indicated they are more concerned today about online privacy than they were a year ago. Another notable finding: 83% of users believe that affordable access to the Internet should be a basic human right.

Comments

If "Steps" are Facebook Privacy Controls...

[Irate Engineer]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!



HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!



HAA HAA HAA HAA HAA HAA HAA!!!!!!

Oh God, that was funny! *SNORT*.

I'll let you in on a secret (*snicker*):

If you're on the web, you're walking down the street shouting your secrets to the world.

The way to keep your privacy is to keep your mouth shut.

Re:A New Year's Resolution

[Irate Engineer]

Smoke signals using Morse code.

Dubious About This Survey

[jratcliffe]

Some really odd responses in here, that make me question the honestly of the responses. For example, on 35% of Chinese respondents believe their government restricts access to the Internet?

Secondly, on the Snowden question, the question calls out for a "yes, I have" response. People don't want to admit to surveyors that they don't know something, so a good study will actually test whether they actually know about Snowden, or are just not willing to admit ignorance.

Finally, it doesn't say what the "steps" people took actually are, so it's very hard to say what impact Snowden's actually had.

There is a section asking about what people are doing differently on the net vs. last year (changed password, not go to certain sites, etc. etc.), but that was asked of all respondents, not just those who say they know of Snowden, so there's no output on what specific changes people made. Would be interesting to see the responses to that question separated between those who know of Snowden, and those who don't.

Re:Dubious About This Survey

[RobbieCrash]

At this point, does it really matter if people are simply taking steps to hide their Facebook posts, or if they're starting to PGP sign their emails?

People are starting to do something; starting to feel that it's important enough to do something. That's a positive step, each subsequent story makes them think "Oh, maybe I should do this thing more often, or keep these posts private." That increases the overall digital literacy, for lack of a better term, with each subsequent generation doing better than the past. Most people now know not to emails from strangers with attachments, if not most then certainly a lot more than did 5 years ago. Same goes for password practices, people know they should do better at them regardless of if they do or not.

Eventually people will, or services will do it for them, encrypt their phones, they'll put a half decent password on things, etc. It's just not going to happen overnight. We should be encouraging any little steps people take, not deriding them for not doing enough.