A recent poll finds Americans are not comfortable with the collection of electronic data and are highly skeptical about it, but give the insurance industry decent marks.

The 17^th quarterly Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll asks Americans their impressions about the collection and use of electronic data by government, business entities and others.

When asked how much trust do you have in groups or people to responsibly use information about you—the insurance industry out-did the government, electronic service providers and others. While 48 percent say they trust the government a great deal or some, more respondents—63 percent—say they trust Home, Auto and Life insurance companies more.

Even health insurers—who have received negative publicity—got higher polling numbers at 59 percent.

The Internal Revenues Service, which is in the middle of a controversy about flagging certain conservative groups for review—did better than the government at 53 percent. Social media sites and the media were at the lowest end of the polling at 25 percent and 29 percent respectively.

The poll finds 85 percent of respondents believe their communications history—such as cell phones, e-mails, and Internet use—are accessible to the government, business, and others. The majority, 66 percent, feel that they have little or no control over the type of information collected and used by groups and organizations. As for correcting inaccurate information, 59 percent says they feel they cannot.

“Americans are understandably concerned that the fundamental American right to privacy is no more,” says Marci Kaminsky, senior vice president of public relations for Allstate Insurance Co. Most Americans are not happy or comfortable with the collection of data, she says, and have mixed feelings when it comes to trust. She says protecting privacy and rebuilding trust will require shared accountability and compromise with the public and private sector along with individual citizens.

Special Reports /

Poll Finds Most Americans Trust Insurers' Use of Data

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