Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
According to the OECD, privacy and security concerns have declined as a reason for not submitting official forms online. In 2023, about 1.34% of individuals in OECD countries chose not to submit forms online for these reasons, down from almost 4% in 2014. However, rates remain higher in countries such as Hungary (4.7%), France (4.2%), and Portugal (3.4%) compared to their previous peaks.
The OECD study also highlights challenges with understanding privacy policies. The presentation and default settings of online service providers often steer consumers toward decisions favoring providers—a phenomenon known as 'dark patterns.' Engagement with privacy policies varies: nearly 50% of individuals read them in Norway and Finland, while only about 20% do in Luxembourg, France, and Belgium, underscoring widespread issues with informed consent.
Cross-border data flows are critical for economic and social interaction but raise concerns about privacy, data protection, intellectual property, digital and national security, and regulatory oversight. Ensuring trust in these exchanges is a key goal of initiatives like Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT). Data governance, spanning technical, policy, and regulatory frameworks, remains a priority for governments seeking to maximize data benefits across sectors.