{"id":93162,"date":"2019-11-15T11:57:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T16:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T04:05:25","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T09:05:25","slug":"how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/","title":{"rendered":"1. How Americans think about privacy and the vulnerability  of their personal data"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/pi_2019-11-14_privacy_1-01-1-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-115484\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e8e8e8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"1194\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-01-1.png?resize=480,913 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-01-1.png?resize=628,1194 628w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-01-1.png\" alt=\"In their words: What does privacy mean to you?\" class=\"wp-image-115484 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e8e8e8; width:310px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>For more recent findings on data privacy, read our 2023 report&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2023\/10\/18\/how-americans-view-data-privacy\/\"><em>\u201cHow Americans View Data Privacy.\u201d<\/em><\/a><br><br>Americans have had a variety of ways of thinking about privacy over the centuries. Though the word \u201cprivacy\u201d is not used in the Constitution, the idea that citizens are \u201cto be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures\u201d is enshrined in the Fourth Amendment. Before he was a Supreme Court justice, Louis Brandeis proclaimed in a <a href=\"http:\/\/faculty.uml.edu\/sgallagher\/Brandeisprivacy.htm\">1890 Harvard Law Review article<\/a> that Americans enjoyed a \u201cright to privacy,\u201d which he argued was the \u201cright to be let alone.\u201d In a landmark birth control case in 1965, the Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com\/privacy\">embraced the Brandeis view<\/a>, ruling that the right to privacy can be inferred from the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth and 14th Amendments. More modern concepts have focused on Americans\u2019 views that they ought to be able to <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2016\/09\/21\/the-state-of-privacy-in-america\/\">control their identity<\/a> and their personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This new survey asked Americans for their own definitions of the words \u201cprivacy\u201d and \u201cdigital privacy.\u201d Their written answers were coded into broad categories, and they reveal that across both questions, participants most often mention their concerns about the role other people and organizations can play in learning about them, their desire to shield their personal activities and possessions, and their interest in controlling who is given access to their personal information. By comparison, fewer participants mention third parties and the selling of their information, tracking or monitoring, crime and other threats of illicit activity, or interference from the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked what privacy means to them, 28% of respondents mention other people or organizations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cKeeping my personal information out of the hands of the big data companies.\u201d \u2013 Man, 34 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cMy personal information is secure. No one knows my credit card numbers, address info, where I have been, my banking info, my health info, etc. People don\u2019t know anything about me I do not intend to share.\u201d \u2013 Woman, 51<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around one-quarter (26%) mention control or their ability to decide what aspects of their lives are accessible to others:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI have control of all my personal and financial information, no one else can access without my permission.\u201d \u2013 Man, 50 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cPersonal privacy means everything about me personally is private unless I personally opt-in to allow it to be public. Opt-in means not by default or convoluted user agreement that circumvents the purpose of privacy laws.\u201d \u2013 Man, 57 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another 15% of respondents focus on themselves and their personal possessions, without referring to outside organizations or people:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cPrivacy is being able to feel like your personal information is safe.\u201d \u2013 Woman, 18 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThat I am in complete control of my personal information.\u201d \u2013 Woman, 29<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about \u201cdigital privacy,\u201d respondents again focused on similar topics as when they were asked about \u201cprivacy:\u201d control, the role of other people and organizations, and themselves and their personal possessions. Some 17% mention only themselves and the protection of their own personal information, making no reference to other people or organizations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cPersonal information such as [Social Security numbers], banking information, medical records remain private and secure.\u201d \u2013 Man, 59 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI should be able to surf the web and do it anonymously.\u201d \u2013 Woman, 55<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/pi_2019-11-14_privacy_1-02-1-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-115490\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6e6e6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"626\" height=\"1224\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-02-1.png?resize=480,939 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-02-1.png?resize=626,1224 626w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-02-1.png\" alt=\"In their words: What does digital privacy mean to you? \" class=\"wp-image-115490 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6e6e6; width:310px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And 14% of respondents mention control and the desire to decide which aspects of their lives are accessible to others:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cDigital privacy would mean that you could use digital technology without the fear of your information or messages being vulnerable to someone gaining access to it that was not your intended receiver.\u201d \u2013 Woman, 72 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cHaving control and ownership of my online data. Have control and the ability to delete information I have not explicitly given the right to use or disseminate.\u201d \u2013 Man, 60 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another 13% mention the role other people or organizations play in their digital privacy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cSecurity and lack of ability to easily find information put into the digital world like on the internet (passwords, ability to find social media posts), via phone\/tablet, etc.&#8221; \u2013 Woman, 34 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cActivity\/data about me and from my interactions with websites and digital services being unavailable to other people.\u201d \u2013 Man, 22<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A smaller share of respondents (9%) believe that \u201cdigital privacy\u201d is a myth and doesn\u2019t actually exist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cDigital privacy does not exist, in my opinion. Once one puts something on a computer that is connected to the internet, privacy is compromised and no longer \u2018private.\u2019\u201d<br>\n\u2013 Woman, 75 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cNothing&#8230;. No matter what type of security you think you have, any hacker that wants in will get in. Just a matter of time in my opinion.\u201d \u2013 Man, 49 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many of respondents\u2019 written answers about their definitions of \u201cdigital privacy\u201d repeated thoughts that were in answers about \u201cprivacy.\u201d At the same time, words like \u201csocial media,\u201d \u201conline,\u201d \u201cinternet\u201d and \u201cdata\u201d were more common when respondents described \u201cdigital privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;seven-in-ten-americans-say-they-feel-as-if-their-data-is-less-secure-today-than-it-was-five-years-ago&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"seven-in-ten-americans-say-they-feel-as-if-their-data-is-less-secure-today-than-it-was-five-years-ago\">Seven-in-ten Americans say they feel as if their data is less secure today than it was five years ago<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/pi_2019-11-15_privacy_1-03-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-115492\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e3e4de\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"514\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_privacy_1-03.png?resize=480,295 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_privacy_1-03.png?resize=782,481 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_privacy_1-03.png?resize=836,514 836w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_privacy_1-03.png\" alt=\"Seven-in-ten Americans say their personal information is less secure than it was five years ago\" class=\"wp-image-115492 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e3e4de; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/pi_2019-11-14_privacy_1-04-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-115459\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ced4dd\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"1106\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-04.png?resize=480,845 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-04.png?resize=628,1106 628w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-04.png\" alt=\"Majorities of Americans think their personal information is less secure today than in the past\" class=\"wp-image-115459 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ced4dd; width:310px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large data breaches have become a regular feature of modern life \u2013 affecting companies like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/capital-one-reports-data-breach-11564443355\">Capital One<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/millions-facebook-user-records-exposed-amazon-cloud-server\/\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/leemathews\/2017\/09\/07\/equifax-data-breach-impacts-143-million-americans\/#3b6fbef8356f\">Equifax<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/11\/21\/technology\/uber-hack.html\">Uber<\/a>. To that end, Pew Research Center surveyed Americans about how they feel about their own personal data. This survey finds that seven-in-ten Americans feel their personal information is less secure than it was five years ago, only 6% say their information is more secure, and about a quarter (24%) feel the situation has not changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Majorities across demographic groups believe their personal data is less secure than it was in the past, but some groups are more likely to feel this than others. Those with higher levels of educational attainment are more likely to believe things are worse. Fully 78% of those with a bachelor\u2019s or advanced degree say their personal information is less secure, compared with 64% of those with a high school education or less. Those over age 50 are also more likely to think their data is less secure, compared with those ages 18 to 49.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;more-than-half-of-the-public-say-they-follow-privacy-news-at-least-somewhat-closely&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"more-than-half-of-the-public-say-they-follow-privacy-news-at-least-somewhat-closely\">More than half of the public say they follow privacy news at least somewhat closely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/pi_2019-11-14_privacy_1-05-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-115463\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e1e4e5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"476\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-05.png?resize=480,272 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-05.png?resize=782,443 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-05.png?resize=840,476 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-05.png\" alt=\"Majorities of Americans think their personal information is less secure today than in the past\" class=\"wp-image-115463 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e1e4e5; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the midst of this concern, how much attention are Americans paying to privacy issues? Some 57% of Americans say they follow news about privacy very (11%) or somewhat (46%) closely, while 43% say they don\u2019t follow it too closely, or at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/pi_2019-11-14_privacy_1-06-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-115469\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d8dce2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"1130\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-06.png?resize=480,864 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-06.png?resize=628,1130 628w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-06.png\" alt=\"Older adults are more likely than younger adults to say they pay attention to privacy-related news\" class=\"wp-image-115469 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d8dce2; width:310px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two-thirds of adults ages 65 and older say they follow privacy news at least somewhat closely, compared with just 45% of those 18 to 29 who do the same. Those living in households earning $75,000 or more a year are also more likely to follow privacy news at the same rate \u2013 with 60% saying they do so \u2013 compared with 53% of those with a household income less than $30,000 saying the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is little difference, however, between those who follow news about privacy issues and those who do not when it comes to expressing concern about the way things are trending. Some 74% of those who follow privacy news at least somewhat closely believe their data is less secure than it was five years ago and 64% of those who do not follow privacy news too closely also feel the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;roughly-three-in-ten-americans-have-experienced-some-kind-of-data-breach-in-past-12-months&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"roughly-three-in-ten-americans-have-experienced-some-kind-of-data-breach-in-past-12-months\">Roughly three-in-ten Americans have experienced some kind of data breach in past 12 months<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/pi_2019-11-14_privacy_1-07-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-115473\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dee1e5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"844\" height=\"742\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-07.png?resize=480,422 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-07.png?resize=782,687 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-07.png?resize=844,742 844w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-07.png\" alt=\"21% of Americans have had fraudulent charges on their debit or credit cards in the past year \" class=\"wp-image-115473 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dee1e5; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about three different types of data breaches or identity theft, 28% of Americans say they have experienced at least one of them in the past 12 months. About one-in-five adults (21%) say someone has put fraudulent charges on their debit or credit card in the past year, while smaller shares say someone has taken over their social media or email account without their permission, or attempted to open a line of credit or apply for a loan using their name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/pi_2019-11-14_privacy_1-08-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-115478\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eeeeee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"842\" height=\"676\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-08.png?resize=480,385 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-08.png?resize=782,628 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-08.png?resize=842,676 842w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.14_privacy_1-08.png\" alt=\"Black Americans are more likely to experience social media, email breaches \" class=\"wp-image-115478 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eeeeee; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black adults (20%) are roughly three times as likely as their Hispanic (7%) or white counterparts (6%) to say someone has taken over their social media or email account in the past year. Black Americans are also more likely to say someone attempted to open a line of credit or applied for a loan using their name in the past 12 months, compared with smaller shares of white and Hispanic adults who say the same.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For more recent findings on data privacy, read our 2023 report&nbsp;\u201cHow Americans View Data Privacy.\u201d Americans have had a variety of ways of thinking about privacy over the centuries. Though the word \u201cprivacy\u201d is not used in the Constitution, the idea that citizens are \u201cto be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":377,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","relatedPosts":[],"reportMaterials":[],"multiSectionReport":[],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[]},"categories":[],"tags":[],"bylines":[],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[458],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[],"research-teams":[526],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-93162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","formats-report","research-teams-internet"],"label":false,"post_parent":93115,"word_count":1303,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/how-americans-think-about-privacy-and-the-vulnerability-of-their-personal-data\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":115433,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"chartArt":false},"A2":{"id":115433,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":115433,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"chartArt":false},"A4":{"id":115433,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"chartArt":false},"XL":{"id":115433,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png?w=720&h=405&crop=1","width":720,"height":405,"chartArt":false},"social":{"id":115433,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/PI_2019.11.15_Privacy_featured.png?w=1200&h=628&crop=1","width":1200,"height":628,"chartArt":false}},"_embeds":[],"watchers":[],"table_of_contents":[{"id":93115,"title":"Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information","slug":"americans-and-privacy-concerned-confused-and-feeling-lack-of-control-over-their-personal-information","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/11\/15\/americans-and-privacy-concerned-confused-and-feeling-lack-of-control-over-their-personal-information\/","is_active":false},{"id":93162,"title":"1. 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