New research shows that the public does not believe the British gaming sector can keep their personal data safe.
Thursday 16th October 2008
A new report from online market research firm iD Factor suggests that members of the public trust the UK gaming industry’s ability to handle their personal information less than any other sector.
Despite having no recorded data protection foul ups, around half of those surveyed expressed doubts regarding gaming businesses’ ability to protect their identity. This placed the sector behind retailers, government, the National Health Service, banks, travel companies and the main utilities in the public’s trust.
The research polled 1,000 people who were asked to rank various sectors from one to ten in terms of how highly they trusted them with personal data. The gaming industry, which included casinos, online sites and interactive television gambling, finished in last spot while nearly 46 percent of respondents gave it the lowest rating. A similar poll last year revealed that only four percent of people were confident that the gaming business could protect their identity.
However, Karyn Bright, Head of Marketing for identity management firm GB Group, revealed that many of the public’s perceptions of the gaming industry are based on an old image.
“This is a broad brush customer survey with a broad range of the population,” said Bright.
“We asked who they trust with their personal information and the processes around it in terms of data information. There is a perception out there about the gaming industry that is not backed up by reality.
“There has been no breach in gaming unlike other sectors. I think the gaming industry needs to shout more about its processes. It needs a public relations campaign on behalf of the industry. It does understand the importance of protecting data and the processes needed partly because it is very much a technology driven industry, particularly in the remote gaming area.”
A new report from online market research firm iD Factor suggests that members of the public trust the UK gaming industry’s ability to handle their personal information less than any other sector.
Despite having no recorded data protection foul ups, around half of those surveyed expressed doubts regarding gaming businesses’ ability to protect their identity. This placed the sector behind retailers, government, the National Health Service, banks, travel companies and the main utilities in the public’s trust.
The research polled 1,000 people who were asked to rank various sectors from one to ten in terms of how highly they trusted them with personal data. The gaming industry, which included casinos, online sites and interactive television gambling, finished in last spot while nearly 46 percent of respondents gave it the lowest rating. A similar poll last year revealed that only four percent of people were confident that the gaming business could protect their identity.
However, Karyn Bright, Head of Marketing for identity management firm GB Group, revealed that many of the public’s perceptions of the gaming industry are based on an old image.
“This is a broad brush customer survey with a broad range of the population,” said Bright.
“We asked who they trust with their personal information and the processes around it in terms of data information. There is a perception out there about the gaming industry that is not backed up by reality.
“There has been no breach in gaming unlike other sectors. I think the gaming industry needs to shout more about its processes. It needs a public relations campaign on behalf of the industry. It does understand the importance of protecting data and the processes needed partly because it is very much a technology driven industry, particularly in the remote gaming area.”