Half of Americans Want the Internet to Forget Them, but They Don't Know How to Do It.
A new study reveals that people are increasingly concerned about their privacy and are seeking to have greater control over it.
More and more people want the internet to "forget" their existence. This trend is especially pronounced in the United States, where nearly half of internet users seek to eliminate their online presence. However, many of them do not know how to achieve this. This finding comes from collaborative research between NordVPN, one of the leading VPN providers, and Incogni, a company specializing in the removal of personal data. It is also concerning that the global percentage of individuals worried about their personal information has risen from 30% in 2022 to 35% this year.
According to Marijus Briedis, CTO of NordVPN, "the change in people's attitudes and their growing need to erase their online presence highlight a trend: they no longer passively accept the idea that their data should remain on the internet forever." In the study, 152 million Americans expressed their desire to remove their information from the public domain.
Researchers surveyed 6,800 individuals over the age of 18 in countries such as the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. The results revealed that American citizens are the most concerned, followed by Canadians. Nearly half of the respondents in the U.S. (48%) feel that companies collecting, selling, or using their information are taking advantage of them. This is the primary reason they want to remove their personal data from the web. Additionally, many fear that their devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks that could compromise sensitive information.
When asked about the presence of their name on the internet, 40% of Americans agreed that it should not be available, while 41% expressed distrust towards the web, and 20% fear being manipulated by third parties. Since the implementation of GDPR in 2018, which establishes stricter rules regarding data protection in the EU and the U.K., the right to be forgotten has been recognized.
Among the information Americans are most eager to eliminate, financial information ranks first (64%). Also, 33% want to delete their old dating and social media profiles, and 31% want to remove embarrassing moments from their social media lives. Medical history (38%) and details about dating and relationships (31%) are other categories they prefer to keep away from the internet.
Despite these concerns, nearly half of the respondents (44%) indicated that they do not know how to remove their sensitive information from the web. A third of the participants expressed that they would be willing to pay up to $100 to browse anonymously, while 5% said they would pay up to $1,000. Although some states like California, Colorado, and Connecticut have passed their own privacy laws, the U.S. still lacks comprehensive federal legislation in this area.
Marijus Briedis also emphasized the growing demand for control and empowerment of users over their personal information. To protect online privacy, it is recommended to limit the information shared and adjust privacy settings on social media. Additionally, using a VPN is crucial to safeguard data and avoid tracking.
Currently, securing account safety is essential. It is advised to use strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication. Finally, it is recommended to remove information from data broker databases that collect personal information and sell it to other companies. While it is possible to do this alone, subscribing to data removal services can make the process more effective.
The need for anonymity in the digital environment is evolving into an essential requirement, not just a luxury. This reflects a shift in how users interact with the internet and how technology providers and lawmakers must address the management of personal data in the near future.
