Americans Have Little Trust In Online Security
2021-09-24
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1Americans do not believe their personal information is safe online, suggests findings from a new poll.
2They also are not satisfied with the federal government's efforts to protect such information.
3The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and MeriTalk did the polling.
4It found that 64 percent of Americans say their social media activity is not secure.
5About as many have the same safety concerns about online information that shares their physical location.
6Half of Americans also believe their private text messages are not secure.
7They are not just concerned.
8They want the federal government to do something about it.
9Almost 75 percent of Americans say they support creating laws for how companies can collect, use and share personal data.
10Jennifer Benz is the head of the AP-NORC Center.
11"What is surprising to me is that there is a great deal of support for more government action to protect data privacy," she said.
12But after years of failed efforts to create stronger data privacy laws, Americans do not trust the government to fix the problem.
13A majority of those who took part in the poll said they have more trust in private companies than the federal government to address security and privacy issues.
14This comes even after years of hacks of U.S. corporations that shared the personal information of millions of people around the world.
15"I feel there is little to no security whatsoever," said Sarah Blick.
16She is a professor at Kenyon College in Ohio.
17Officials at the college told Blick earlier this year that someone had used her identity to seek unemployment insurance money.
18Such fraud has greatly increased since the pandemic began.
19The poll answers showed that about 71 percent of Americans believe that individuals' data privacy should be treated as a national security issue.
20But only 23 percent are satisfied in the federal government's current efforts.
21Terri Carver is a Republican Party state lawmaker in Colorado and the writer of a data privacy bill that will take effect there in 2023.
22The law follows similar measures passed in California and Virginia, and gives people the right to find and delete personal information.
23Colorado's law also permits people to opt out of having their data tracked and sold.
24Facebook and other companies opposed the bill.
25"There's great frustration that individuals have that they don't have the tools and the legal support to establish any kind of effective control over their personal data," Carver said.
26She hopes the efforts by Colorado and other states push Congress to make national protections.
27The poll showed that protecting personal information online is "an area where people do see a direct role in government," Benz said.
28I'm Dan Novak.
1Americans do not believe their personal information is safe online, suggests findings from a new poll. They also are not satisfied with the federal government's efforts to protect such information. 2The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and MeriTalk did the polling. It found that 64 percent of Americans say their social media activity is not secure. About as many have the same safety concerns about online information that shares their physical location. Half of Americans also believe their private text messages are not secure. 3They are not just concerned. They want the federal government to do something about it. Almost 75 percent of Americans say they support creating laws for how companies can collect, use and share personal data. 4Jennifer Benz is the head of the AP-NORC Center. "What is surprising to me is that there is a great deal of support for more government action to protect data privacy," she said. 5But after years of failed efforts to create stronger data privacy laws, Americans do not trust the government to fix the problem. 6A majority of those who took part in the poll said they have more trust in private companies than the federal government to address security and privacy issues. This comes even after years of hacks of U.S. corporations that shared the personal information of millions of people around the world. 7"I feel there is little to no security whatsoever," said Sarah Blick. She is a professor at Kenyon College in Ohio. Officials at the college told Blick earlier this year that someone had used her identity to seek unemployment insurance money. 8Such fraud has greatly increased since the pandemic began. 9The poll answers showed that about 71 percent of Americans believe that individuals' data privacy should be treated as a national security issue. But only 23 percent are satisfied in the federal government's current efforts. 10Terri Carver is a Republican Party state lawmaker in Colorado and the writer of a data privacy bill that will take effect there in 2023. 11The law follows similar measures passed in California and Virginia, and gives people the right to find and delete personal information. Colorado's law also permits people to opt out of having their data tracked and sold. Facebook and other companies opposed the bill. 12"There's great frustration that individuals have that they don't have the tools and the legal support to establish any kind of effective control over their personal data," Carver said. 13She hopes the efforts by Colorado and other states push Congress to make national protections. 14The poll showed that protecting personal information online is "an area where people do see a direct role in government," Benz said. 15I'm Dan Novak. 16Matt O'Brien reported this story for The Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 17__________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19poll - n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something 20text - n. data handled by a computer, cell phone, etc., that is mostly in the form of words 21hack - n. to secretly get access to the files on a computer or network in order to get information, cause damage, etc. 22insurance - n. an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company and the company promises to pay money if the person is injured or dies, or to pay money equal to the value of something (such as a house or car) if it is damaged, lost, or stolen 23fraud - n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person 24opt out - n. an opportunity to choose not to do or take part in something 25frustration - n. a feeling of anger or annoyance caused by being unable to do something : the state of being frustrated 26role - n. a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation