Consumer Reports, Times polls find broad data privacy concerns

Most consumers are "very concerned" about Internet firms selling information about them without their permission, according to a Consumer Reports survey.

The poll found that 71% of consumers were very concerned about online data collection, while 65% were worried about the way smartphone apps could access their personal contacts, photos, location and other data without their permission. The report came on the heels of a Times poll that found similar levels of concern. The USC Dornsife/Times survey, published Sunday, found that 82% of Californians were very or somewhat concerned about Internet and smartphone firms collecting their information. The USC/Times poll also found that when consumers were asked to rate how much they trusted some of the best-known tech firms, the scores were low. On a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being absolute trust, no firm scored higher than a 4.6 -- that was Apple. Google received a 3.8, while LinkedIn scored 3.0. YouTube was rated 2.8, Facebook scored 2.7, and Twitter earned a 2.4. (April 3)