Indian Users Are ‘Cool’ With Sharing Data, But Won’t Shop Online

Indian users are comfortable sharing data with banks and the govt but aren’t willing to do so with gaming sites.

Hacking-related incidents have become an almost daily affair now and India is at the crossroads of solving its digital privacy puzzle.

Traditionally, India has been pegged as a country where users are yet to understand the need to be ‘digitally secure and aware’, but latest reports reveal a different picture.

57% of people fail to read, or only skim privacy policies on entering websites.

KPMG International Report

This report provides us vital information compiled by the organisation after surveying over 2,000 people from across the globe, including India.

We have no idea why people are ‘cool’ with sharing their details on apps like Uber/Ola or a FitBit. Has convenience become so important that user security has taken a back seat?

At the same time, here’s the part which doesn’t add up.

Half the Indians on the Internet do not shop online out of concern for their personal data security.

Here’s another one to chew on:

Over two-thirds of the people are not comfortable with smartphone and tablet apps using their personal data.

KPMG Report

So, let’s get this straight: Indian users don’t find it invasive when their data is used by Uber or a fitness tracker, but that’s the reason they won’t shop online!

This wavering ideology presents the possibility of a dual economy for personal information. Some consumers are happy to hand over their personal data, while the more cautious can implement strategies.

KPMG Report

The question of a consumer’s willingness to share personal data is integral to the digital future. For India, sharing and privacy concerns go hand in hand.

Not surprisingly, the KPMG report says banking and central government organisations are the most trusted, as they ask for the least amount of user information.

Well, that’s misinformation at its finest, especially after the recent demonetisation debacle that sparked off a furore about user data being recorded by none other than PM Modi’s digital team.

We’re pretty sure that if this survey was done in India post-December, the results would have been different.

Also Read: Is PM Modi’s NaMo App BJP’s ‘Surgical Strike’ On User Privacy?

The least trusted, going by the report, are the gaming and entertainment folks. According to Indian users who were surveyed, they weren’t comfortable with sharing the kind of data they were asked to submit by such companies.

So, you’re okay sharing your mobile number, residential address and email-ID with the Prime Minister of India (because government), but doing same with a platform like Zapak gets you worried.