In Box: Kiwis value privacy

New Zealanders won’t tolerate privacy breaches no matter the circumstances, according to recent Unisys Security Index study.
The study, conducted by Consumerlink, showed that 80 percent of Kiwis surveyed would cease dealings with businesses and other organisations if they became aware that their personal information had been accessed by unauthorised people.
It also found that 48 percent would publically expose the issue and 36 percent said they would take legal action.
“New Zealanders are telling us that unauthorised access to their personal information will be viewed as fundamental breach of trust with significant consequences,” said Unisys New Zealand managing director Brett Hodgson. “These findings are warning to any organisation holding personal data that customers will walk away if they become aware that their private information has been accessed by unauthorised people – whether accidentally or as part of malicious attack. Data breaches can have direct impact on the bottom line.”
Of respondents in the 12 countries surveyed in the global research study, those in New Zealand were among the most likely to say they will stop dealing with an organisation responsible for data breach.
Only 26 percent of New Zealanders surveyed said that they would continue dealing in any manner, online or otherwise, with an organisation responsible for breach of their personal data.
By contrast, almost half of Kiwis surveyed say they would publicly expose data breach if it happened – making them the least likely of the 12 countries surveyed to take this action.
Kiwis are also among the least likely of respondents from the 12 countries surveyed to say they will take legal action in the event of data breach.
“Compared to other countries, Kiwis prefer to let their actions do their talking and will simply stop dealing with an organisation if they become aware of data breach,” Hodgson explained. M