Around half of Americans decided not to use products or services due to privacy concerns, but this varies by whether they've experienced a data breach % who say they have recently decided NOT to use a product or service because they were worried about how much personal information would be collected about them
At a time when many Americans believe their personal information is less secure and are concerned with how companies and the government use their personal data, a substantial share of the public has opted out of using a product or service because of privacy concerns, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 3-17, 2019.
About half (52%) of U.S. adults said they decided recently not to use a product or service because they were worried about how much personal information would be collected about them.
There are some distinctions among certain Americans. For instance, people’s own experience with data breaches in the last 12 months is a factor. Those who said someone attempted to open a line of credit or apply for a loan using their name were more likely than those who did not experience this to say they decided not to use a product or service out of privacy concerns (64% vs. 51%). A similar pattern exists when comparing those who said someone took over their social media or email account without their permission and those who did not experience this (63% vs. 51%). And those who said someone put fraudulent charges on their debit card or credit card were more likely than those who did not experience this to share this concern (56% vs. 51%). Overall, adults who experienced any of these three data breaches were more likely than those who did not to avoid products or services out of privacy concerns (57% vs. 50%).
Around half of Americans decided not to use products  | or services due to privacy concerns, but this varies by  | whether they've experienced a data breach  | % who say they have recently decided NOT to use a product or  | service because they were worried about how much personal  | information would be collected about them  | All U.S. adults  | 52%  | Among those who say someone DID/ DID NOT  | in the last 12 months  | 64  | Attempt to open a line of credit for  | INTERPARIONALIZE 51 51 51  | apply for a loan using their name  | INTERPARIONALIZE 51  | 63  | Take over their social media or email  | account without their permission  | INTERPARIONALIZE 51  | 56  | Put fraudulent charges  | son their debit or credit card  | INTERPARIONALIZE 51  | Note: Those who gave other answers or no answer not shown.  | Source: Survey conducted June 3-17, 2019  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 