NEW YORK, June 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- According to the latest YouGov Omnibus survey, a majority of Americans (55%) would support a version of the "right to be forgotten" legislation, which was recently passed in Europe. The law allows European citizens to request that links to "inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant" information be removed from search engines. Those aged 35-54 (58%) and 55+ (57%) are more strongly supportive of this kind of legislation than Millenials (49%). Men (60%) appear to be stronger supporters than women (50%).
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140603/93879
Financial Information of most concern: Content from ex-friends and partners also feared
Forty-two percent of Americans say they would like to remove information about themselves from web browsers. Although financial information was the most often cited cause of concern, many are also worried about content connected to ex-partners and former friends.
Americans are most interested in removing financial information, including bankruptcy judgments (35%), links to ex-partners or friends (29%), malicious content from former friends or partners (28%), and links to embarrassing pictures (28%).
The over 55s appear to be more concerned about financial information than Millennials who are mostly worried about embarrassing pictures (37%), however one in five of the over 55s (21%) are still worried about access to embarrassing pictures.
The "right to privacy" is the primary benefit to some form of "right to be forgotten" legislation in the US and is cited by 50%. Ability to remove links to false information (47%), and ability to remove links to malicious information or images (45%) were next most frequently cited benefits. 32% feel that people do silly things when they are younger and shouldn't have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives.
Despite the US debate about the European legislation frequently centering on US First Amendment rights, only 17% believe that such a law would contravene our right to freedom of speech. The greatest disadvantages to this type of legislation were that it might start unnecessary censorship of the Internet (35%), or that it would be make it easier for criminals and fraudsters to operate (30%).
For more information and full tables visit: http://research.yougov.com/news/2014/06/02/americans-would-support-right-be-forgotten/http://research.yougov.com/news/2014/06/02/americans-would-support-right-be-forgotten/
Note on Methodology
Total sample size was 1104 adults for fieldwork undertaken between 9th - 12th May 2014, and 1106 adults for fieldwork undertaken between 28nd - 30th May 2014. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).
About YouGov
YouGov is an international full-service research and consulting company, which has pioneered the use of technology to collect higher quality, in-depth data for companies, governments, and institutions so that they can better serve the people that sustain them. www.research.yougov.com
Media Contact: Jenny Hall, YouGov, 212 724 3040, [email protected]
News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com
SOURCE YouGov
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article