CSIA study: Less than a fifth feel protected on internet

Fewer than one in five Americans feel that existing laws are enough to protect them on the internet, a new survey revealed.

The poll of 1,150 adults for the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA) by research company Pineda Consulting found that only 18 percent of respondents think that existing laws are enough to protect consumer privacy.

The CSIA cited the research findings as having “political consequences” and that “the lack of action by the U.S. government is manifesting itself through continued economic losses.”

The survey found that many expressed a clear preference for strong federal data security legislation even when presented with the argument that it will result in unwanted notices and higher prices with 70 percent of likely voters agreeing that Congress should pass a strong data security law.

Nearly half of likely voters (46 percent) who think that Congress should pass a strong data security law report that they would have serious doubts about a candidate that opposed swift action. The survey also revealed little difference between Republicans and Democrats on cybersecurity policy issues.

Paul Kurtz, executive director of CSIA said that Congress has spent more than a year debating legislation while data security matters have “been rising in the public consciousness”.

“While data security alone won’t be a deciding factor in an election, the survey does reveal that voters have serious doubts about candidates opposed to strong data security laws,” said Kurtz. “Consumers are beginning to understand the link between their privacy and data security and they are looking to their government leaders for action.”