A nation that prides itself on honesty appears to make an exception when it comes to the internet. New research from security firm Symantec has found that one in three Britons has deliberately given false information online to protect their privacy, while more than half avoid posting personal details altogether out of caution. The findings, published in Symantec's State of Privacy Report, paint a picture of a public that is wary of handing over data but often unsure how to protect itself properly.
Trust in Short Supply
The report found that how companies handle personal data is now shaping consumer loyalty almost as much as price or product quality. Only 21 percent of Britons said they trusted retailers to keep their information secure, while social media platforms fared worse still, earning the confidence of just 12 percent of respondents. Across the wider EU, medical institutions and banks were seen as far more trustworthy custodians of personal data. For anyone weighing up how to reduce their own exposure, comparing services through an independent resource such as the provider can offer a clearer sense of which tools genuinely protect user information rather than merely promising to.
Knowledge Gaps Undermine Good Intentions
Caution alone does not guarantee safety. Symantec's research revealed that 59 percent of UK consumers wanted to do more to protect their personal details but did not know how. Nearly half, 49 percent, said they worried their data was not safe, and the same proportion of respondents, 59 percent, reported having experienced a data protection issue in the past. This gap between concern and competence is a familiar pattern in digital security: awareness of risk has grown far faster than practical understanding of encryption, data minimisation, or secure browsing habits.
A Two-Way Problem
The report also complicates the narrative of consumers as pure victims. While 75 percent of respondents believed their personal data had real monetary value, with over 55 percent estimating it at more than €1,000, 36 percent said they would trade their email address for a financial incentive. Only one in five read terms and conditions in full before handing over personal information. Ilias Chantzos, senior director of Symantec Government Affairs EMEA, argued that businesses need to be more transparent about how they secure data, framing security as a factor that wins customers rather than simply a cost of doing business.
What Comes Next
Darren Thomson, Symantec's CTO and VP of Technology for EMEA, suggested the technology industry has a role in helping consumers make better choices, rather than leaving them to decipher dense privacy policies alone. As data protection regulation tightens across Europe and public scrutiny of corporate data practices intensifies, the pressure is likely to fall on both sides: companies will need to demonstrate real security rather than vague assurances, and individuals will need accessible tools and clearer information to make informed decisions about what they share, and with whom.
