A Loop Me survey comparing how thousands of consumers feel about ad data indicates that despite new regulations, more than half don’t believe their data is more secure than it was a year ago, and only 15% of those surveyed say they understand how companies are using their data.
Conventional wisdom says Americans won’t pay for privacy, but this research study used conjoint analysis to show that half would pay at least $8 per month for social media product that didn’t keep or sell their data. Half would also pay $30 extra for a smartphone that was similarly private. On the other hand, about 40% wouldn’t pay anything extra. The study was conducted, apparently just for fun, by Ajit Ghuman, who runs product marketing at a retail customer engagement platform.
National security potentially is a concern. Fears include possible use of personal information by foreign intelligence services for hacking, blackmail and influence campaigns. Companies include AT&T, Google, Twitter and Verizon.
The U.S. Department of Justice has formally requested the sale of the Chrome browser among other measures following last August’s guilty verdict in its search advertising antitrust suit (not to be confused with last week’s guilty verdict in the adtech antitrust lawsuit). Google is asking for a much narrower focus on deals to be the default search engine for Apple, Mozilla and others. There will be a three-week hearing on the government’s proposals.