From the ArcaMax Publishing, Business News Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/businessnews/s-373348-928270
OTTAWA (UPI) -- Nearly half of all Canadians have refused to give
personal information to a retailer, fearing loss of privacy, a survey
indicates.
The survey, commissioned by the federal privacy commissioner, showed
45 percent of those questioned had, at one time or another, declined
to give their personal data to a retailer, the Canadian Broadcast
Corp. reported Friday. About the same percentage of Canadians also
said they have questioned a retailer about why they needed a name,
postal code or address.
Those surveyed said they were reluctant to provide such information
because of the possibility of fraud and identity theft.
About a quarter of the respondents could see no reason for the
retailer needed the data, and 13 percent provided false information,
the pollsters learned.
"Our personal information is increasingly invaluable in the
marketplace, and I am very pleased to hear that consumers are taking
charge and questioning requests for their information," Privacy
Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said Thursday in a news release.
"I recognize that businesses have a need to better know and understand
their customers, but if they can't give you a good reason for why they
need your personal information, simply don't give it out."
The telephone survey of about 1,000 adults was conducted by Ipsos-Reid
Dec. 11-16, 2007. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points.