Cyber Security Tops the List of Concerns for Internet Users in Asia-Pacific
July 26 2017 - 02:28AM
Business Wire
Internet Society survey highlights a wide range
of online fears
The Internet Society today released the findings from its annual
Survey on Internet Policy Issues in Asia-Pacific. The findings show
that cyber security is now the top concern for Internet users in
the region, followed by access, data protection, connectivity and
privacy. The concerns brought to light by the survey highlight the
fears people now have when going online.
Over 2,000 people from 40 economies across Asia-Pacific
responded to the survey, which takes an in-depth look at how
Internet users handle personal information online.
Key Findings:
- Cyber security topped the list of
Internet users’ key concerns.
- Without sufficient online data
protection, 50% of women and 40% of men said that they were highly
unlikely to use online banking and financial services, and
approximately 40% of women and men were highly unlikely to use
e-commerce sites and online shops.
- Over 70% of respondents felt that their
personal information was not sufficiently protected online. Yet,
close to 60% of respondents believed that they did not have
sufficient knowledge and tools to protect their privacy
online.
- Both women (91%) and men (89%) were
either very uncomfortable or uncomfortable with disclosing bank and
credit card details online.
“As Internet use in Asia-Pacific continues to skyrocket, it’s
crucial that Internet users, organizations, governments and other
stakeholders understand the challenges that the region faces. The
survey results underscore the need for both the public and the
private sectors to not only build robust and secure networks and
systems, but also to develop tools that equip users with the
knowledge and skills to use these services safely online. These
actions will help increase their confidence in using online
services, and their trust in the Internet,” explains Rajnesh Singh,
Regional Bureau Director, Asia-Pacific, Internet Society.
Cyber Security:
Cyber security rose to the top of this year’s survey, up from
last year’s second-place, when access was the number one concern.
In 2016, existing laws were revised and new ones established
relating to cyber security and data protection in countries
throughout the region, most notably in China, South Korea and
Indonesia.
Over 60% of users were aware of Internet-related policies,
regulations or laws enacted by their national government in the
past year. According to survey participants, these mainly sought to
address cyber security, cybercrime, access, privacy and data
protection—the same issues that were top of mind for them.
A majority of the respondents (63% of women and 72% of men)
strongly agreed or agreed that the Internet became a more regulated
space in the past year. A number of respondents expressed concern
for the following issues:
- The need to regulate fake news
- Increased surveillance that violates
privacy rights
- Increased censorship and blocking of
sites that affects freedom of expression
- The lack of online child
protection
Internet Trust:
Most Internet users do not feel that their personal information
is protected online and hesitate to use services that don’t have
privacy guarantees. These concerns have important implications on
the rollout and use of not only commercial, but also public and
social services online.
More than half (55%) of respondents indicated that they were
either highly unlikely or unlikely to use online services if there
were no guarantees that their personal information would be fully
protected. Without sufficient online data protection, 50% of women
and 40% of men said that they were highly unlikely to use online
banking and financial services, and about 40% of the women and men
were highly unlikely to use e-commerce sites and online shops.
Online privacy:
Over 70% of respondents felt that their personal information was
not sufficiently protected online. Yet, close to 60% of the
respondents believed that they did not have sufficient knowledge
and tools to protect their privacy online.
A majority of Internet users (90%) were very uncomfortable or
uncomfortable with providing bank and credit card details online. A
larger percentage of the population in the Asia-Pacific region
trusted traditional services such as banks, public authorities and
health institutions, but had less trust in strictly online service
providers.
“Users want to be informed, and need to have a certain level of
control over the collection and use of their personal information.
Public and private organizations that collect and share user
information need to take this into account when formulating or
updating privacy frameworks. This is also relevant for governments
in the region as they start to consider new provisions such as the
‘right to be forgotten’ as well as pursue digital transformation
initiatives,” added Singh.
For the full survey please visit:
https://www.internetsociety.org/doc/APACSurvey.
About the Internet Society
Founded by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society (ISOC) is a
non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the open development,
evolution, and use of the Internet. Working through a global
community of chapters and members, the Internet Society
collaborates with a broad range of groups to promote the
technologies that keep the Internet safe and secure, and advocates
for policies that enable universal access. The Internet Society is
also the organizational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF).
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