Data privacy and security are the biggest challenges facing technology
●Big tech companies need to build trust
● People are willing to move to more private solutions
● Consumers want more control over their data
● People feel they have no control over their personal privacy
How Aleo can help
Internet privacy matters. It enables us to live our lives more freely online, whether we’re playing our favorite games, connecting with friends and family, or accessing critical services.
But how pressing is this for the public? New report Based on a national survey conducted in partnership with Morning Consulting, our research found that data privacy and security of the apps we use every day are our main concerns.
In this post, we’ll explore five of the most important findings from our research and explain how Aleo puts users in control of their data.
Data privacy and security are the biggest challenges facing technology
Today’s internet faces a myriad of complex and growing problems, from cyberbullying to the spread of fake news and political censorship.
But among the many concerns, data privacy and security remain more troubling than others, with 48% of respondents ranking them as their top concerns. These concerns are uniquely bipartisan, equally distributed across the political spectrum, but highest among older adults and those with higher education and income levels.
“These numbers underscore the urgent need to rebuild confidence through innovative solutions that prioritize user privacy,” said Brennen Schlueter, Aleo chief marketing officer and one of the report’s co-authors. “Privacy has gone from something users wish for to something they demand.
Big tech companies need to build trust
In general, consumers do not trust that tech companies are currently hitting the mark when it comes to protecting and safeguarding the privacy of their data.
Despite their ubiquity in modern life, consumers are less likely to trust Big Tech than financial services, retail or streaming companies – with just 43% trusting them for data privacy and security, compared to more than half of respondents who trust other industries with their data.
Encryption companies need to pay particular attention to consumer perception, as only 10% of respondents said they have “a lot” of trust in the industry’s data security and protection.
People are willing to move to more private solutions
Nearly twice as many respondents said they needed new security products and tools — 55% of respondents — compared to just 23% who said existing options were sufficient. Additionally, two-thirds of consumers said they would be very motivated to switch products if there was a solution that focused solely on protecting their data.
Consumers want more control over their data
In general, the public is frustrated by their lack of knowledge or control over their data. More than one in five respondents said they were familiar with how companies use their data or that they felt they had good control over how companies use their data.
What could be improved? First, people would like to see companies take action to communicate the measures they take to ensure privacy and security in a more direct way, rather than hiding them deep in the "fine print".
People feel they have no control over their personal privacy
Three in five adults believe they should do more personally to protect their data, but the vast majority say they believe solutions are too technically complex or are simply unsure where to go for help.
Their confusion is understandable. Beyond the occasional “opt-out” button, most tech platforms give consumers few choices about how and with whom their data is shared. But at the same time, “consumer attitudes are changing,” says John Reynolds, head of product at Aleo. “With the media reporting more data breaches, leaks, hacks, scams, and ransomware than ever before, these risks are top of mind for the public.”
How Aleo Helps
A radical solution is needed to give the public the level of privacy they demand. Aleo is purpose-built for privacy and specifically designed to give control back to people over how their data is used and who has access to it.
It does this by leveraging zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), a computational method that improves data privacy. ZKPs allow one person to “prove” to another party that a statement is true, without revealing any additional information.
These proofs could transform the way we protect, manage and share personal data, while:
Access financial services, allowing you to apply for credit or a mortgage without exposing your private documents online.
Applying for positions that allow you to share proof of your degree or professional certification without having to share your entire academic transcript with potential employers.
Seek treatment, ensuring that the private medical information you provide to your doctor is limited to what actually needs to be shared, while reducing the risk of your data being compromised in a cyberattack.
While Aleo has a plethora of features and applications built on its secure ZK infrastructure, it makes these use cases possible by allowing people to privately upload their documents on their secure personal devices before sending proof of certain information to others. Because their underlying data is never shared online, they can trust that their information is less likely to be exposed to bad actors through data breaches.
This also benefits technology companies, financial institutions and other centralized organizations, which are often responsible for storing their users’ data and are therefore targets for costly cyberattacks.
The demand for apps that are private by default already exists - are you ready to build them?
ALEO2024 Privacy Report
biography
method
The survey was conducted among 2,217 adults nationwide from October 17 to 20, 2023. The interviews were conducted online and the data was weighted to approximate the target sample based on gender, education, age, race and region.
The full survey results have a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points.
Key Data*
67% of consumers said that if given the choice to use a technology solution built with a focus on protecting data, they would definitely or probably switch to a product.
If a data breach occurs, most people are willing to switch platforms/products.
Most people don’t feel they have control over their data.
The data and all other information in this report come from a survey
Commissioned by ALEO and conducted by Morning Consult
aleo's analysis
Our research found that 67% of consumers would switch to
If the product includes data protection technology options. This number reflects something very well
I know: People are increasingly concerned about who controls their personal data
They want to protect their privacy from being stolen by data brokers and big tech companies.
This highlights the need for consumers to have the right to choose.
While some customers are satisfied with their existing digital services, the privacy of these services
Limitations are recognized. Awareness of potential digital risks is growing
It’s no surprise that even those who are happy with their current setup are looking for alternatives that offer stronger security protection. With media coverage of data breaches, leaks, hacks, scams, and ransomware more widespread than ever before, these risks are top of mind for the public.
It’s not just the news that’s influencing consumer confidence. Advertisements for digital products that promise improved data security, heightened awareness of global privacy laws like GDPR, and personal experiences have all made people take privacy-focused solutions more seriously. This shift in consumer attitudes and behaviors is indicative of a larger trend where the value of online privacy and security is increasingly being viewed not as a luxury, but as a fundamental right. As a result, companies that place a premium on protecting user data are gaining traction, signaling a significant shift in market dynamics toward privacy as a key differentiator.
Event-based switching considerations
Survey participants were asked: If any of the following events occurred with an app, website or social media service you use, to what extent would you consider switching to a new product?
The rise of privacy-centric platforms and services is a response to this changing environment, where the demand for secure, transparent, and user-respecting alternatives is at an all-time high. This trend is expected to accelerate, and ZK technologies offer a promising avenue for enhancing privacy without compromising user experience. In this environment, Aleo aims to build a platform that prioritizes privacy and security without sacrificing usability or accessibility. This is in line with the public's growing demand for safer digital experiences.
As digital technology becomes more and more embedded in our daily lives, calls for user privacy and security become more urgent. Companies and technologies that can address these issues and provide powerful solutions that protect user data by design will not only lead the next wave of innovation, but also rebuild trust in the digital ecosystem.
People’s views on privacy are improving
Author: Brennen Schlueter, CMO
Key data
Cryptocurrency companies were among the least trusted when it comes to data privacy and security, with just 10% of respondents stating they trust them a lot and 14% stating they trust them quite a bit.
The levels of concern about data privacy among different generations are as follows: Gen Z (68%), Millennials (74%), Gen Z (77%), Baby Boomers (85%).
Data privacy and security were cited as top concerns in the tech industry today, with 48% of respondents saying it was their top concern.
Aleo’s Analysis
In 2023, cryptocurrency companies face clear challenges with user trust. In our research, only 10% of survey participants expressed confidence in the industry’s commitment to data privacy and security. This concern is particularly evident among older generations, increasing from Gen Z to Baby Boomers, but is seen as a problem regardless of age or background.
Perceived personal control over the use of customer data
Survey participants were asked: How much control do you feel you have over how technology companies use the customer data they collect from you, if any?
While in the Web3 space, data privacy and security issues have long plagued traditional Web2 technology companies, with nearly half of respondents citing privacy as their top concern. This concern reflects the long-standing dominance of Web2 products, which often provide only temporary fixes to privacy issues that arise, as well as growing disappointment with blockchain technology, which is sometimes viewed as a speculative venture rather than a real-world solution.
These numbers underscore the urgent need to rebuild confidence through innovative solutions that prioritize user privacy. Expectations for retail and enterprise applications made with a privacy-first approach will become the standard, and tolerance for exceptions will be lower. Thanks to the work of Aleo and others, 2024 will be remembered as the year when privacy became the cornerstone of innovation and user trust in the digital world. Simply put, privacy has gone from something users wish for to something they need.
Few adults are lax about data privacy; most are concerned
They worry about how their data is used, even though they feel they have less control.
Perceptions of data privacy and security
Survey participants were asked: Which of the following statements
Which best matches your views on data privacy and security?
As we prepare for this change, Aleo’s upcoming main site launch puts us at the forefront of the digital privacy transformation. Ushering in a new era of privacy-centric, permissionless, easy-to-program applications, Aleo will unlock scalable innovation with user trust front and center. By leveraging zero-knowledge proofs, Aleo uses cutting-edge cryptography called zero-knowledge (ZK) to ensure transactions are verified without revealing any underlying sensitive information. This approach enables a level of privacy and security unmatched by traditional systems, allowing for the creation of digital applications that protect user data by design, ensuring only necessary information is shared and nothing more.
Transitioning to core expectations will ensure that the next generation of the Internet does not simply repeat the mistakes of its predecessors, but will instead pave the way for a future where privacy and security are embedded in the fabric of digital interactions, changing the way we interact with technology on every level.
People are interested in privacy-focused solutions
By Leena Im, Global Head of Policy and CSO, Aleo Ventures
Key data
23% of respondents believe that existing products and tools provided by large technology companies are “sufficient” to ensure data privacy.
53% of respondents cited data privacy and security as a baseline expectation; it had little impact on whether they thought it would be better to have these protections.
55% of respondents believe that new products and tools are needed to replace existing ineffective solutions to protect data privacy.
●Most people are not familiar with the data collection processes of technology companies.
Aleo’s Analysis
2023 was a big year for digital privacy, highlighting users’ continued concerns about the privacy of their data but also acknowledging a sense of helplessness in achieving change. While the year saw incremental progress on the privacy front, it provided a clear opportunity to challenge and ultimately change the privacy paradox – individuals express concerns about privacy but continue to use services that compromise it.
This paradox persists. The current digital ecosystem is ripe for disruptive byproducts that prioritize privacy, demonstrating the urgent need for innovation in this space.
Regulatory developments are expected to play a key role in shaping the privacy landscape. As regulators understand the nuanced threats and potential benefits associated with digital privacy, there will be a clearer distinction between harmful practices and those that truly enhance privacy. This understanding could lead to a regulatory environment that promotes the development of privacy-focused technologies and products, making them viable alternatives to current market products. As a result, 2024 is expected to be the year when privacy moves from an afterthought to a core feature of digital products, driven by consumer demand, technological innovation, and supportive regulatory frameworks.
The most worrying issues facing the tech industry
Data privacy is considered the most concerning issue facing the technology industry today.
Going forward, the focus will likely shift to creating solutions that address tangible privacy issues, moving from theoretical discussions to real-world applications in everyday life. Emphasis will be placed on developing products that solve real-world problems, such as strengthening age verification processes, streamlining know-your-customer (KYC) procedures, and providing more effective methods of protecting personal data. Blockchain technology, while critical, will become a substrate rather than a main topic, focusing attention on the solutions it enables rather than the technology itself. This shift will encourage broader exploration of privacy-enhancing technologies, with tools such as zero-knowledge proofs and platforms such as Aleo leading the way in introducing innovative products that enhance privacy.
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