TELECOMMUNICATIONS : ONLINE SECURITY REMAINS A CONCERN TO EU CITIZENS.

In 2006, 12% of individuals aged 16 to 74 in the EU27 had not ordered goods or services over the internet in the preceding 12 months because of worries about giving credit card or personal details online. These security and privacy concerns were most common in Spain (27%), Finland (26%) and Cyprus (20%). These data were published on 8 February by Eurostat, on the occasion ofa the 5th Safer Internet Day, which will take place on 12 February(1).

The percentage of individuals aged 16 to 74 in the EU27 who ordered goods or services over the internet increased from 24% in 2005 to 30% in 2007.

In the EU27, the percentage of internet users, which is to say individuals aged 16 to 74 who had used the internet in the last three months, increased from 52% in 2006 to 57% in 2007. During the same time period, the proportion of internet users who...