Thirty-eight percent (38%) of local consumers say they are happy for the government to monitor social media activity to keep its citizens safe, according to Kaspersky’s latest report, Social credits and security: Embracing the world of ratings. The report reveals people’s perception of social ratings and if they are prepared to be a part of such a system. At the same time, 67% of local respondents were ready to reveal their private data in exchange for a unique offer in an online shop. However, for many consumers, it still remains unclear how these automated systems of data-driven services work: 55% of all the users participating in the poll admitted they still can’t figure out the mechanisms of their work.
The growing popularity of social media networks and online services has led to a growth in social scoring systems – automated algorithms based on users’ behaviour and influence on the Internet. Initially, such consumer assessment algorithms were integrated by financial institutions, as well as by e-commerce providers. Today, such systems are applied in many other spheres and sectors. For example, governments and organisations can assess which people are eligible for a wide range of real-world services. Moreover, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world saw the implementation of automated systems to control people’s movements, their ability to buy goods and their access to social services. But are people actually ready for this?
