June 17, 2019

At a stocktaking event to mark the first year of application of the GDPR the Commission has published the results of a special Eurobarometer survey on data protection. The Commission says that the results show that Europeans are relatively well aware of the new data protection rules, their rights, and the existence of national data protection authorities to which they can turn for help when their rights are violated.

Based on the views of 27,000 Europeans, the survey shows that 73% of respondents have heard of at least one of the six tested rights guaranteed by the GDPR. The highest levels of awareness among citizens were recorded for the right to access their own data (65%), the right to correct the data if they are wrong (61%), the right to object to receiving direct marketing (59%) and the right to have their own data deleted (57%).

In addition, 67% of respondents were aware of the GDPR and 57% of respondents knew about their national data protection authorities. The results also show that data protection is a concern, as 62% of respondents were concerned that they do not have complete control over personal data provided online.

The Commission also launched an awareness raising campaign to encourage citizens to read privacy statements and to optimise their privacy settings so that they only share data they are willing to share.

The Commission says that it will report on the application of the GDPR in 2020. To read the Commission’s press release in full, click here.