digital rights

A staggering 95% of Australians want the ability to “opt out of certain data collection practices” and 92% want companies to be transparent about how their data might be used to assess eligibility for products and services.

That’s according to the Consumer Data and Digital Economy report, released on Monday by the Consumer Policy Research Centre, which has found that Australians are not apathetic toward data protection, but feel little control over what data they provide.

It is based off polling conducted by Roy Morgan Research that surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1004 Australians and conducted two focus group studies. Its release comes as Crikey delivers its third tranche in its Prying Eyes series, which has been taking a look at all the ways corporate surveillance is impacting upon our lives.

As data breaches and sharing of information with companies become the new norm, many Australians feel powerless and uncomfortable about their treatment from companies, technology platforms and e-commerce, said Lauren Solomon, chief executive officer of the Consumer Policy Research Centre, which is funded by the Victorian government.

This combination of factors in consumer sentiment laid the foundation for a consumer backlash, as Australians looked for ways to avoid their data being gathered and used for purposes they had no knowledge of, Solomon said.

“Australian consumers are tired of being forced by corporations to give away their valuable personal data, just to be able to conduct their daily lives,” she said. “We don’t understand what we’re giving away, or why, and it makes most of us uncomfortable. We are providing a valuable commodity often for little to no return.”

Unless companies found ways to create a more even value exchange with consumers in the future, Solomon said everyday Australians would eventually demand policy settings — or adopt new technologies — that limit the ability of companies to hold their private data.

Despite this, and despite the overwhelming desire for choice and transparency, consumers currently don’t feel they have other options.

“The study showed that 94% of Australians admitted they did not read all the privacy policies that apply to them,” Solomon said. “And of those who had read at least one Privacy Policy or Terms and Conditions in the past 12 months, two-thirds (66%) indicated that they signed up for products and services even though they did not feel comfortable with the policies. Consumers don’t feel that they have a choice.”

The most common reason (73%) for accepting privacy policies, despite being uncomfortable with them, was that it was the only way to access the product or service.

“This is why 73% of Australians want government to ensure companies give consumers options to opt out of providing data, how it can be used and shared with others,” Solomon said. “If companies won’t behave responsibly with our data, we expect regulators to step in.”

While the establishment of a Consumer Data Right by the federal government was a welcome move, the Consumer Policy Research Centre said it was voluntary and only for certain types of data, falling short of protections introduced in jurisdictions such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, or California’s new California Consumer Privacy Act.

“These economy-wide protections enable much greater transparency and things such as the right to erasure or ‘right to be forgotten’, added protection for the processing of children’s data, and greater transparency with initiatives such as clear ‘Do Not Sell My Personal Information’ buttons on websites,” said Solomon.

“It’s important to note that this isn’t about shutting down data. Open data can drive huge benefits to consumers and to society. It’s about ensuring that consumers have adequate control and choice. We need to be driving innovation and delivering inclusive, trusted markets at the same time, and making active choices about how we want technology to work – for consumers, our society and our markets.”