Every fourth Bulgarian posts his home address online

25% of Bulgarian citizens stated that they have posted their home address on social networks or on websites for sharing photos and videos. The data was posted in the special edition of the Eurobarometer survey, conducted by TNS and commissioned by the European Commission.

The topic of the security of personal data, especially on the Internet, is becoming increasingly popular in Bulgaria and in the European Union as a whole. Recently, the media disclosed lots of online credit frauds. Many Bulgarians still refrain from shopping online with credit or debit cards because they are afraid to share their personal financial information online.

The special Eurobarometer edition revealed the attitudes and experience of Bulgarians with respect to the Internet and personal data protection.

The data showed that online shopping in Bulgaria is less widespread than in the EU as a whole. However, this is offset by the greater popularity of social networks for sharing photos and videos online which are more frequently used in our country than the average for the European Community.

Names, personal photos, nationality, hobbies and interests, and friends are the most often shared pieces of personal information on the social network among Bulgarians and among Europeans as a whole. However, Bulgarians are a bit more open and willing to post their personal photos than EU citizens in general. In fact, 54% of Internet users in our country have uploaded their photos online, compared to the EU average of 51%. EU citizens, in turn, are more in favour of sharing their mobile phone numbers and personal addresses than Bulgarians. Almost 40% of EU residents who use the Internet have disclosed their home address, while a bit less than a quarter of them have shared their mobile phone numbers. In our country, these percentages are lower - one in four Bulgarians has not posted his/her personal address, while 18% have shared their mobile phone numbers.

The disclosure of personal data of any kind undoubtedly brings up the topic of the security of the Internet user with respect to his/her reputation and relations, as well as to his/her financial security and even in terms of the confidentiality of personal information. 17% of Bulgarians feel that they have no control over the information posted by them on the Internet. Actually, 20% of Europeans are of this opinion. More than half of Bulgarians and Europeans shared the opinion that they have partial control over their shared personal data online.

The use of personal data without the consent or even knowledge of the Internet user is the most frequently mentioned risk, feared by both Bulgarians and Europeans. Besides, the danger of fraud and unsolicited commercial e-mail offers are also monitored. About one-fifth of Bulgarian and European citizens shared concerns about their personal security and safety.

Прочети цялата новина

Свързани новини: