79% of Lankan users’ foremost concern is digital privacy

• Viber releases findings of recent voluntary in-app polls to mark International Privacy Day

As people turn to messaging apps and digital means of communication during the novel coronavirus pandemic, privacy is still at the forefront of users’ minds.

As International Privacy Day dawned on 28 January, Viber, among the world’s leading apps for free and easy communication, unveiled the results of its global in-app voluntary poll in which approximately 340,000 people participated, revealing 77% of Viber users across the globe say digital privacy is very important for them. 

Based on the data gathered from Sri Lanka, results of the Viber poll displayed similar statistics. When local Viber users were asked how much they care about digital privacy in messaging apps, the result was a resounding 79%. 

Additionally, as the COVID-19 crisis continues to accelerate the digitisation of many aspects of life, from education to work to healthcare, people are turning to apps and digital formats to stay connected to family members, friends, and colleagues. Rakuten Viber’s recent poll underscores that through the transformation, data privacy is still top of mind for its users. 

79% of the respondents globally state that they would switch their messaging app due to any privacy concerns. Which speaks by itself that users take privacy really seriously and it is vital for them. 

For Sri Lankan users too, in choosing a messaging app, 88% valued end-to-end encryption where their calls and chats to family and friends remained private. Also 72% placed greater emphasis on privacy being an essential criterion in selecting and switching to an app that responded to their privacy concerns.

Viber’s private calls and chats are end-to-end encrypted. No one can join or be invited to group chats without permission. In addition, Viber also offers another layer of privacy with its hidden chats feature, which can only be accessed with a PIN. 

“This survey shows us and the rest of the world that privacy should never take a back seat to features in times of growing concern for surveillance of private communication for profit,” says Rakuten Viber CEO Djamel Agaoua. “Because data privacy is top of mind for our users, it is also one of our main concerns, and we will continue to provide people across the globe a safe communication platform to host their conversations.”