Research Finds Irish Concerned About Data Security

58 per cent of Irish people worry about a data breach resulting in their personal information being leaked by a company, according to new research. To add to this, a further 55 per cent of Irish people have concerns about how Irish businesses are handling their personal data.

The research, commissioned by Irish high-tech security specialist Netwatch, was undertaken by Coyne, with 1,000 respondents overall.

The results show that, while 89 per cent of people agree that data is playing an increasingly important role in Irish business, there is not often confidence in how businesses are handling and securing this data.

There is also uncertainty amongst the Irish public when it comes to protecting themselves. Just 40 per cent of respondents agree that they understand their rights regarding how businesses handle their data.

When it comes to businesses using surveillance, less than a quarter of respondents know how long businesses are authorised to retain CCTV footage for. Just 25 per cent know how to request access to CCTV footage they have been filmed in.

The main area of focus for this research was the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – a strict set of data regulations for businesses operating in the EU, which comes into effect in May 2018. The GDPR will have a huge effect on both Irish businesses and consumers – but only 23 per cent of Irish people understand what GDPR is, and just one fifth are aware of how GDPR affects them personally.

When it comes to the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), people are slightly more clued in. 55 per cent of respondents understand what the Data Protection Commissioner does, and a significant 65 per cent would consider going to the Data Protection Commissioner with a complaint. Currently just 15 per cent of respondents have actually gone to the DPC with a complaint.

For further information on ensuring your business’ CCTV system is GDPR compliant, see Netwatch’s blog post on the subject.