Few Americans understand online privacy and tracking, report finds

Many consumers want to control their personal data. But few understand how online tracking works, according to a new report from the University of Pennsylvania.

Many people in the United States would like to control what information companies can get. them online. Yet when faced with a series of true or false questions about how digital devices and services track users, most Americans struggled to answer them, according to a report published Tuesday by the Annenberg. School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania.

The report analyzed the results of a data privacy survey that included more than 2,000 adults in the States -United. Very few respondents said they trusted the way online services handled their personal data.

The survey also tested people's knowledge of how whose apps, websites, and digital devices may collect and disclose information about people's health, TV viewing habits, and doorbell camera videos. Although many understood how companies can track their emails and website visits, a majority seemed unaware that there are only limited federal protections for the types of personal data that online services can collect on consumers.

Seventy-seven percent of respondents answered nine or fewer of the 17 true-or-false questions, which equates to an F grade, according to the report. Only one person received an A grade, for answering 16 of the questions correctly. No one has answered all of them correctly.

Americans struggle to answer questions about online tracking practices and privacy policies

Researchers from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania surveyed 2,014 people in the United States in a series of real fakes. Correct answers are in bold.

Most people have a good understanding of some of the ways businesses can track their online activities…

When I go to a website, it may collect information about my online behaviors even if I don't register using my name or email address.

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A Smart TV can help advertisers deliver an advertisement to a viewer's smartphone based on the show they are watching.

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A company can tell that I opened their email even though I didn't click on any links.