Easing Online Data Anxiety

What is the issue?

The breach of multiple data bases and the increasing frequency of online theft have created a fear psychosis among the masses worldwide.
Dispelling anxieties on sharing data online is vital for enhancing internet’s utility as a tool for progress.

What are some metrics on cyber security?

According to a digital security report, a 783% increase in cases of data theft in India was noticed in 2017.
Most compromised or stolen records belonged to the government, which was followed by the retail and technology sectors.
Globally, sectors which were hit the most by data theft in 2017 were healthcare (27%), financial services (12%), education (11%) and government (11%).
The most number of records lost, stolen or compromised was noticed in data bases of - government (18%), financial services (9%) and technology (16%).
Additionally, RBI reported a 35% increase in credit, debit card and net banking related fraud since 2013-16 (12,000 cases in 2016).

What are the implications of these incidences?

The cumulative effect of reported security breaches is that a sense of mistrust is taking shape among Internet users regarding data.
Reports suggest that a significant number of users have shown unwillingness in sharing basic data like name, location etc, on 3^rd party applications.
A considerable number of people are said to have reduced sharing data across platforms after the “Facebook - Cambridge Analytica” fiasco.
Also, 6% stopped Internet transactions while 28% of users reduced such transactions and 42% reported that they had become “more cautious”.

What is the way ahead?

India’s Internet users expected to hit the 500 million mark this year, and the fear of sharing data online is also growing.
Government’s potency to prevent data abuse and cyber crime should build confidence among the masses for them to overcome their anxiety.
As a first step, the government should implement the Supreme Court verdict that upheld privacy as a fundamental right.

Source: The Hindu