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Background

ARE AUSSIES WILLING TO GIVE AWAY THEIR PERSONAL DATA?

  • A Money Study, October 2022
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About the study

Money commissioned a survey of an independent panel of 1,010 Australians to gauge sentiments over corporate organisations asking for their personal information. Respondents could choose, from a list of 14, whether they felt ‘concerned’, ‘neutral’ or ‘comfortable’ about giving certain personal details online.

Money also asked respondents whether they read privacy terms and conditions before sharing their personal information online and if they falsify any of their details, such as date of birth, home address or gender.

The pool of survey respondents matches the age and geographical spread of the Australian population.

How do Australians feel about providing private information to companies online?

Survey respondents were presented with a list of 14 personal details that large corporations may ask for when they sign up to a subscription, telco plan, financial product, eCommerce site, app service, utility plan or accommodation service, and asked to convey how concerned they are about disclosing such information: ‘concerned’, ‘neutral’ or ‘comfortable.’ Money found that:
lock

Only 40% of respondents were concerned about giving away certain personal information

user-right

90% were comfortable or neutral when it came to providing their gender online

users

82% were comfortable or neutral providing their relationship status

Image user icon

76% were comfortable or neutral sharing their date of birth

Other details respondents felt comfortable or neutral sharing included:

User plus icon

The number of dependants they have (83%)

home

Their home address (75%)

Coins hand icon

Income (64%)

Credit card icon

Driver's licence (56%)

Providing financial information

In contrast, respondents were the most concerned about providing financial information. Respondents were concerned about sharing:

1

Bank transaction history (68%)

2

Bank account details (65%)

3

Tax file numbers (58%)

4

Payslips (47%)

5

Income (36%)

Respondents were also concerned about:

  • Sharing a photo of their face (58%)
  • Passport details (57%)

Identity theft is one of the common ways an individual's personal and financial information can be used by criminals. Checking your credit score and report regularly can be an effective way of watching out for signs of identity theft.

How do you feel about large corporations asking for the following information when you sign up with them?

How do you feel about large corporations asking for the following information when you sign up with them?

Across the states and territories

Respondents across most states indicated similar sentiments towards large corporations requesting personal data, however some states’ responses departed significantly from the consensus.

In particular, respondents from the ACT displayed greater caution towards sharing certain kinds of personal data than the rest.

Here's how the results panned out for those providing their utility bill information:

Australian Capital Territory

50% of respondents

Western Australia

36% of respondents

Queensland

33% of respondents

New South Wales

30% of respondents

Providing financial information across the states

Providing financial information was also a cause for concern across the states. Respondents expressed concern over providing bank account details:

  • 94% of ACT respondents
  • 71% of Queenslanders
  • 64% of Victorians
  • 63% of NSW respondents
  • 60% of West Australians

Respondents were also concerned over providing bank transaction history:

  • 72% of Queenslanders
  • 69% of Victorians
  • 67% of South Australians and NSW respondents

A high proportion expressed concern over sharing tax file numbers:

  • 61% of West Australians
  • 60% of NSW respondents
  • 59% of South Australians
  • 57% of Queenslanders

Percentage of respondents who feel concerned about large corporations asking for the following information. By state

Response

Home address

NSW (%)

28

VIC (%)

26

QLD (%)

28

SA (%)

21

WA (%)

25

ACT (%)

19

Response

Passport

NSW (%)

58

VIC (%)

54

QLD (%)

51

SA (%)

51

WA (%)

66

ACT (%)

63

Response

Driver's licence

NSW (%)

46

VIC (%)

41

QLD (%)

43

SA (%)

43

WA (%)

41

ACT (%)

38

Response

Tax file number

NSW (%)

60

VIC (%)

55

QLD (%)

57

SA (%)

59

WA (%)

61

ACT (%)

56

Response

Gender

NSW (%)

11

VIC (%)

11

QLD (%)

8

SA (%)

8

WA (%)

8

ACT (%)

6

Response

Utility bill (electricity, phone, water bill)

NSW (%)

30

VIC (%)

31

QLD (%)

33

SA (%)

32

WA (%)

36

ACT (%)

50

Response

Payslips

NSW (%)

48

VIC (%)

48

QLD (%)

45

SA (%)

45

WA (%)

44

ACT (%)

63

Response

Date of birth

NSW (%)

30

VIC (%)

23

QLD (%)

21

SA (%)

19

WA (%)

19

ACT (%)

13

Response

Number of dependants

NSW (%)

21

VIC (%)

18

QLD (%)

12

SA (%)

22

WA (%)

12

ACT (%)

19

Response

Relationship status

NSW (%)

21

VIC (%)

19

QLD (%)

16

SA (%)

26

WA (%)

13

ACT (%)

13

Response

Income

NSW (%)

35

VIC (%)

41

QLD (%)

36

SA (%)

33

WA (%)

26

ACT (%)

38

Response

Bank account details

NSW (%)

63

VIC (%)

64

QLD (%)

71

SA (%)

59

WA (%)

69

ACT (%)

94

Response

Bank transaction history

NSW (%)

67

VIC (%)

69

QLD (%)

72

SA (%)

67

WA (%)

58

ACT (%)

88

Response

Photo of your face

NSW (%)

58

VIC (%)

56

QLD (%)

61

SA (%)

53

WA (%)

59

ACT (%)

56

ResponseNSW (%)VIC (%)QLD (%)SA (%)WA (%)ACT (%)

Home address

28

26

28

21

25

19

Passport

58

54

51

51

66

63

Driver's licence

46

41

43

43

41

38

Tax file number

60

55

57

59

61

56

Gender

11

11

8

8

8

6

Utility bill (electricity, phone, water bill)

30

31

33

32

36

50

Payslips

48

48

45

45

44

63

Date of birth

30

23

21

19

19

13

Number of dependants

21

18

12

22

12

19

Relationship status

21

19

16

26

13

13

Income

35

41

36

33

26

38

Bank account details

63

64

71

59

69

94

Bank transaction history

67

69

72

67

58

88

Photo of your face

58

56

61

53

59

56

What are the age-based trends?

80% of respondents over-50s are concerned about giving away their bank transaction history. This is compared with:

    circle-green-tick
  • 64% of 31-50 year-olds
    • circle-green-tick
  • 54% of under-30s

Roughly three quarters of respondents (76%) over-50 also expressed concern about giving away bank account details. Compared with:

    circle-green-tick
  • 63% of 31-50 year-olds
    • circle-green-tick
  • 50% of under-30s

Sharing income information was also a cause for concern for more older respondents:

    circle-green-tick
  • 43% of over-50s

Compared with:

    circle-green-tick
  • 33% of 31-50 year-olds
    • circle-green-tick
  • 27% of under-30s

Over-50s were also more likely to be concerned about sharing their passport details:

    circle-green-tick
  • 67% of over-50s respondents are concerned

Compared with:

    circle-green-tick
  • 56% of 31-50 year-olds
    • circle-green-tick
  • 45% of under-30s

Sharing driver’s licence information is a concern for 51% of over-50s. Compared with:

    circle-green-tick
  • 45% of 31-50-year-olds
    • circle-green-tick
  • 29% of under-30s

Percentage of respondents who feel concerned about large corporations asking for the following information. By age

Percentage of respondents who feel concerned about large corporations asking for the following information. By age.

Do Australians provide fake information to protect their privacy online?

Money asked respondents if they always provide their real details to companies online. Respondents were presented with a list of 11 personal details and were asked if they have provided fake information for any of them online.

  • More than a quarter (28%) of respondents have given false information for at least one personal detail
  • 13% admitted to giving a fake home address
  • 10% admit to fudging their income
  • Date of birth is the most common detail Australians fabricate (chosen by 15%)
  • 12% have given a fake name
  • 9% have falsified their tax file number or driver’s licence number

Seven in 10 (72%) revealed they never provide fake details about themselves online.

How does this compare across the states?

Unsecured Business Loan

Across the states, a similar proportion of respondents admitted to fabricating their personal information.

  • A third (33%) of NSW respondents give at least one fake detail online

  • 31% of Victorians

  • 26% of South Australians

  • 22% of Queenslanders

  • 20% of West Australians

Similar percentages across the states have fabricated their home address:

  • 16% of NSW and South Australian respondents

  • 13% of Victorians and 10% of Queenslanders

Respondents also admitted to falsifying their date of birth:

  • 18% of Victorians

  • 17% of NSW respondents

  • 14% of South Australians

  • 10% of Queenslanders

What kind of fake information have you provided to a company online?

Response

Name

NSW (%)

12

VIC (%)

16

QLD (%)

8

SA (%)

10

WA (%)

9

ACT (%)

6

Response

Home address

NSW (%)

16

VIC (%)

13

QLD (%)

10

SA (%)

16

WA (%)

9

ACT (%)

13

Response

Passport number

NSW (%)

9

VIC (%)

7

QLD (%)

4

SA (%)

10

WA (%)

8

ACT (%)

6

Response

Tax file number

NSW (%)

12

VIC (%)

6

QLD (%)

5

SA (%)

12

WA (%)

8

ACT (%)

6

Response

Driver's licence number

NSW (%)

11

VIC (%)

7

QLD (%)

6

SA (%)

12

WA (%)

9

ACT (%)

6

Response

Gender

NSW (%)

10

VIC (%)

10

QLD (%)

5

SA (%)

7

WA (%)

4

ACT (%)

6

Response

Date of birth

NSW (%)

17

VIC (%)

18

QLD (%)

10

SA (%)

14

WA (%)

8

ACT (%)

19

Response

Number of dependants

NSW (%)

7

VIC (%)

4

QLD (%)

5

SA (%)

3

WA (%)

6

ACT (%)

0

Response

Relationship status

NSW (%)

7

VIC (%)

8

QLD (%)

6

SA (%)

3

WA (%)

5

ACT (%)

0

Response

Income

NSW (%)

11

VIC (%)

11

QLD (%)

8

SA (%)

8

WA (%)

8

ACT (%)

0

Response

Bank account details

NSW (%)

9

VIC (%)

6

QLD (%)

6

SA (%)

11

WA (%)

7

ACT (%)

6

Response

I've never provided fake details about myself

NSW (%)

67

VIC (%)

69

QLD (%)

78

SA (%)

74

WA (%)

80

ACT (%)

75

ResponseNSW (%)VIC (%)QLD (%)SA (%)WA (%)ACT (%)

Name

12

16

8

10

9

6

Home address

16

13

10

16

9

13

Passport number

9

7

4

10

8

6

Tax file number

12

6

5

12

8

6

Driver's licence number

11

7

6

12

9

6

Gender

10

10

5

7

4

6

Date of birth

17

18

10

14

8

19

Number of dependants

7

4

5

3

6

0

Relationship status

7

8

6

3

5

0

Income

11

11

8

8

8

0

Bank account details

9

6

6

11

7

6

I've never provided fake details about myself

67

69

78

74

80

75

Across the age groups

    circle-green-tick
  • 32% of under-30s have fabricated at least one personal detail online

Compared with:

    circle-green-tick
  • 29% of 31-50 year-olds
    • circle-green-tick
  • 24% of over-50s

Under-30s are more likely to fabricate their name (16%), compared with:

    circle-green-tick
  • 12% of 31-50 year-olds
    • circle-green-tick
  • 9% of over-50s

Younger respondents also tend to give a fake address:

    circle-green-tick
  • 16% of under-50s

Compared with:

    circle-green-tick
  • 10% of over-50s

Similar proportion across the age groups revealed they provide a fake date of birth online.

    circle-green-tick
  • 15% of over-50s
    • circle-green-tick
  • 14% of under-50s

What kind of fake information have you provided to a company online?

Response

Name

18-30 years old (%)

16

31-50 years old (%)

12

50+ years old (%)

9

Response

Home address

18-30 years old (%)

16

31-50 years old (%)

15

50+ years old (%)

10

Response

Passport number

18-30 years old (%)

7

31-50 years old (%)

9

50+ years old (%)

7

Response

Tax file number

18-30 years old (%)

9

31-50 years old (%)

19

50+ years old (%)

8

Response

Driver's licence number

18-30 years old (%)

9

31-50 years old (%)

9

50+ years old (%)

8

Response

Gender

18-30 years old (%)

9

31-50 years old (%)

8

50+ years old (%)

7

Response

Date of birth

18-30 years old (%)

14

31-50 years old (%)

15

50+ years old (%)

15

Response

Number of dependants

18-30 years old (%)

6

31-50 years old (%)

5

50+ years old (%)

5

Response

Relationship status

18-30 years old (%)

7

31-50 years old (%)

6

50+ years old (%)

6

Response

Income

18-30 years old (%)

7

31-50 years old (%)

11

50+ years old (%)

11

Response

Bank account details

18-30 years old (%)

5

31-50 years old (%)

9

50+ years old (%)

8

Response

I've never provided fake details about myself

18-30 years old (%)

68

31-50 years old (%)

71

50+ years old (%)

76

Response18-30 years old (%)31-50 years old (%)50+ years old (%)

Name

16

12

9

Home address

16

15

10

Passport number

7

9

7

Tax file number

9

19

8

Driver's licence number

9

9

8

Gender

9

8

7

Date of birth

14

15

15

Number of dependants

6

5

5

Relationship status

7

6

6

Income

7

11

11

Bank account details

5

9

8

I've never provided fake details about myself

68

71

76

Do Australians think the proposed digital ID is safer than existing forms of ID?

In light of recent high-profile data breaches, the Federal Government has proposed the roll out of a digital ID. Respondents were asked if they feel such an ID would help prevent future hacks and breaches. Nearly eight in 10 (79%) respondents are concerned a digital ID can still be hacked.

Across the states

Similar proportions of respondents across the States are concerned that a digital ID will be vulnerable to data breaches.

  • 81% of ACT respondents
  • 80% of Victorians
  • 79% of NSW and Queensland respondents
  • 75% of South Australians
  • 74% of West Australians

Do you think a digital ID will prevent hacks and data breaches?

Do you think a digital ID will prevent hacks and data breaches?

What are the trends across age groups?

Similar proportions of respondents across the age groups are concerned about the security of a digital ID:

  • 81% of over-50s
  • 79% of 31-50 year-olds
  • 75% of under-30s

What proportion of Aussies read a website’s privacy terms and conditions?

Money found that more than half (52%) of respondents do not read the privacy terms and conditions before sharing their personal information when signing up to a subscription, telco plan, financial product (e.g. credit cards), eCommerce site, app service, utility plan or accommodation service.

Across the states

Across the states, similar proportions of respondents admitted they don’t read a website’s privacy terms and conditions before providing personal information:

  • 61% of WA respondents
  • 57% of South Australians
  • 53% of Queenslanders
  • 51% of Victorians

What are the age-based trends?

A similar proportion of respondents across age groups are not prudent about reading terms and conditions before sharing their personal information online

  • 54% of over-30s
  • 47% of under-30s
Shaun McGowan Money.com.au founder

Written by

Shaun McGowan

Shaun McGowan is the founder of Money.com.au. He's determined to help people and businesses pay as little as possible for financial products, through education and building world class technology. Previously Shaun co-founded CarLoans.com.au and Lend.

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