A crisis of confidence in information sharing?
18 September 2012

The analysis includes an interesting classification of respondents ranging from the smallest identified group of ‘enthusiastic sharers’ (8%) who are happy with the trade-off between what they share and what services they get in return, versus the majority of ‘non-sharers’ (30%) who proactively withdraw their data via unsubscribing and deleting their web history. 

The report concludes that “None of the potential gains of the information revolution can be realised unless people are at the heart of any new settlement.” 

This is a strong warning for us all - not giving consumers and respondents the confidence they are asking for could have a very significant negative impact on the economy. Certainly some businesses that do not operate transparently and fairly are already under scrutiny, and it is timely that a call for a far-reaching regulatory framework is discussed, with consumers themselves leading the conversation. 

But legislation is not necessarily the answer; if business engages properly with the process self-regulation could play a significant part in the solution.