1) MORRISON & FOERSTER INSIGHTS
CONSUMER
OUTLOOKS ON
PRIVACY
2) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Privacy is a social norm, sometimes captured in laws and regulations, which sets limits on the
collection, protection, processing, and deletion of personal information.
As has become increasingly clear in recent years, privacy presents real business risks that
have the potential to negatively impact a company’s bottom line, from the legal fees associated
with a data breach to a decline in revenue stemming from a loss in consumer trust.
In November 2015, Morrison & Foerster conducted an online survey of more than 900
consumers from across the United States to gauge consumer attitudes and concerns about
various privacy issues. The demographics of the survey sample generally track the U.S.
Census, and are available upon request.
Some of the survey’s key findings include:
• Privacy concerns influence consumer purchasing decisions.
At least once in the last 12 months, more than one-third (35%) of respondents indicated
that they had decided not to purchases products or services from a company because of
privacy concerns.
• More-educated, higher-earning consumers are more likely to stop
buying from a business because of a data breach.
Among respondents, approximately one in five (22%) reported that they no longer
purchased products or services from a company because of a reported data breach.
High-earning, well-educated consumers reacted the least favorably to this scenario.
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3) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• Identity theft is the biggest privacy concern among consumers.
For more than half of the survey’s respondents (52%), identity theft was their biggest
privacy concern.
• The government fares worse than the private sector when it comes
to consumer trust.
Of respondents, 37% indicated that they trust the business community more than the
government. This represents a significant change from the 2011 survey, which was
conducted shortly before Edward Snowden made headlines.
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4) CONSUMER BEHAVIOR AND PRIVACY
Consumers identify privacy as a factor that influences their buying decisions. In the last 12
months, nearly one in three U.S. consumers (35%) have made a decision about what company to
purchase products or services from based on privacy concerns.
35%
This dynamic is increasingly acute among consumers who identify themselves as being
“concerned” about privacy. In 2011, five out of 10 U.S. consumers (54%) reported a decision not
to make a purchase because of privacy concerns. Today, more than eight in 10 consumers (82%)
identify privacy concerns as a factor that has adversely affected their decision to buy a product or
service from a particular company.
2011
2015
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5) CONSUMER BEHAVIOR AND PRIVACY
A correlation exists among education, income, and the influence of privacy on consumer
purchasing decisions. Consumers with higher incomes ($100,000 or more), as well as consumers
with a college or post-graduate degree, are more likely to buy a product or service because of
privacy protections that a company has put into place. The same group is likely to stop buying a
company’s product or services if a data breach has occurred.
CONSUMERS WHO HAVE
STOPPED BUYING FROM A
COMPANY BECAUSE OF A DATA
BREACH (BY INCOME)
CONSUMERS WHO HAVE
STOPPED BUYING FROM A
COMPANY BECAUSE OF A
DATA BREACH (BY EDUCATION)
LOWER
17%
MIDDLE
28%
UPPER
NO COLLEGE DEGREE
COLLEGE DEGREE OR
POST-GRADUATE
33%
18%
28%
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6) CONSUMERS’ GREATEST PRIVACY CONCERNS
Consumers point to various issues to explain their concerns over privacy. For more than half of
U.S. consumers (52%), identity theft is the greatest privacy concern.
Why are you concerned about privacy?
2015
2011
52%
24%
16%
10%
IDENTITY THEFT
8%
PRIVACY IS
A RIGHT
10%
9%
6%
NO BUSINESS IS
PERFECT
4%
CONTROL OF
INFORMATION
3%
3%
THERE IS NO
PRIVACY
5%
TRUSTING
PERSON/
MODERATE VIEWS
7%
3%
GOVERNMENT
MONITORING
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7) PRIVACY AND TRUST IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Some consumers have given up on the ability of companies to protect sensitive and personal
information. Consumers put their trust in companies for a host of reasons, including their belief in
the brand (17%) and observed technological safeguards (16%).
Why do you trust companies with your personal information?
No company is perfect
24%
Brand/trust in technology
17%
Observed technology
16%
Long-time customer
11%
Never had a problem
10%
Company addressed the issue
5%
Heavily regulated
5%
Read policies
3%
Financial Institution
3%
Researched company
3%
Size of company
2%
Media spokesperson
1%
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8) PRIVACY AND TRUST IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Consumers consistently regard their social security numbers as their most sensitive piece of
personal information, followed by any password or other personal identification number that is
required to access an online account or services.
10 Most Sensitive Elements Among Consumers
2015
2011
1. Social Security Number
2. Password or other personal ID number used to
access an account or services
3. Payment card information
1. Social Security Number
2. Password or other personal ID number used to
access an account or services
3. Credit card or other account number, including
information associated with a credit card
4. Financial information, including income tax filings,
financial statements, etc.
5. Any ID or number, including account numbers, user
IDs, passwords, etc.
6. Payment card information
4. Any ID or number, including account numbers,
user IDs, passwords, etc.
5. Financial information, including income tax
filings, financial statements, etc.
6. Credit card or other account number, including
information associated with a credit card
7. Account balances
8. Alien registration number, government
passport number, employee ID number,
taxpayer ID number, Medicaid account
number, food stamp account number, medical
ID number, or health insurance ID number
9. Biometric information or numerical
representation of biometric data, including
finger/voice prints, handwriting, etc.
10. Automated or electronic signatures
7. Account balances
8. Automated or electronic signatures
9. Information from the computer chip, and/or
magnetic strip of a credit card or other payment
card
10. Alien registration number, government passport
number, employee ID number, taxpayer ID number,
Medicaid account number, food stamp account
number, medical ID number, or health insurance
ID number
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9) PRIVACY AND TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT
Consumers have lost some trust in the U.S. government when it comes to protecting privacy. Prior
to Edward Snowden’s defection to Russia, 30% of consumers put greater trust in the government
than the private sector. Today, nearly three times as many people (37% versus 13%) trust the
business community more than the government. The remaining 50% of consumers trust the
government and private sector equally.
Whom do you trust more? The government or the private sector?
Government
Equal
41%
13%
Government
30%
Equal
50%
Private
Private
37%
29%
BEFORE SNOWDEN
AFTER SNOWDEN
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10) PRIVACY AND TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT
Greater transparency would go a long way in reestablishing lost trust in the U.S. government.
Seven out of 10 consumers (70%) indicated that they would be more accepting of U.S.
government surveillance programs if the government provided more information about how the
programs worked and how the government was protecting the privacy of its citizens.
Views on Government Surveillance
70%
I would be more accepting of U.S. government
surveillance if the government told us more about how
it works and how our privacy is protected.
U.S. government surveillance programs have
probably prevented a major terrorist attack.
The added security we receive from U.S. government
surveillance is worth the loss of personal privacy.
The U.S. government has put in place sufficient controls
to protect our privacy from its surveillance programs.
31%
I would feel safe if the amount of U.S. government
surveillance would grow in the future.
19%
10%
7%
4%
The U.S. Congress provides an effective amount of
oversight over U.S. government surveillance programs.
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11) ABOUT MORRISON & FOERSTER
Morrison & Foerster is a global firm of exceptional credentials. Our name is synonymous with a
commitment to client service that informs everything that we do. We are recognized throughout
the world as a leader in providing cutting-edge legal advice on matters that are redefining
practices and industries.
Our Global Privacy & Data Security Group has more than 60 lawyers in the United States,
Europe, and Asia who actively counsel, litigate matters, and represent clients before regulators
around the world. We’re privacy counsel of choice for some of the world’s largest and best-known
corporations, as well as for a host of smaller companies and organizations. Our skills are
particularly valued by companies that operate in highly regulated sectors (such as financial
services, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals), those with an online presence, those operating
internationally, and companies facing regulatory scrutiny or litigation.
We take a big picture view of how an organization handles information during its life cycle
and help our clients find practical solutions to seemingly complex problems. From big data to
cybersecurity and online behavior advertising, our lawyers work on cutting-edge issues that
cover every aspect of privacy and data security.
In 2015, we were named Cyber Crime Firm of the Year by Legal 500 US and Privacy & Consumer
Protection Practice of the Year by Law360. Chambers Global ranks our practice Tier 1 in its global
data protection category.
CONTACT
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Andrew B. Serwin
Partner and Co-Chair, Global Data Privacy & Security Group
Morrison & Foerster
(858) 720-5134 | aserwin@mofo.com
Radley Moss
Director of Public Communications
Morrison & Foerster
(212) 336-4335 | pr@mofo.com
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12) ©2016 Morrison & Foerster LLP