76.9% of internet users protected their data in 2025

In 2025, 76.9% of EU internet users protected their data online by taking steps to manage access to their personal data, an increase of 3.7 percentage points (pp) compared with 2023 (73.2%).

Majority of internet users (58.8%) chose not to allow their personal data to be used for advertising, while 56.2% restricted or refused access to their geographical location. The use of these protection measures has increased by 4.5 and 5.4 pp over the past two years, compared with 2023.

Limiting access to social media profiles or shared online storage also became more common, with 46.0% of internet users taking this step, an increase of 5.0 pp compared with 2023.

In addition, 39.0% of people checked that the website where they provided personal data was secure (+4.2 pp), and 37.6% read the privacy policy statements before sharing their personal data (+1.7 pp).

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Source dataset: isoc_cisci_prv20

The highest share of internet users who took measures to protect their data was recorded in Finland (92.6%), followed by the Netherlands (91.2%) and Czechia (90.3%)

In contrast, the lowest shares were recorded in Romania (56.0%), Slovenia (57.4%) and Bulgaria (62.0%). 

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Source dataset: isoc_cisci_prv20

This news item marks the Data Protection Day celebrated on 28 January.

For more information

• Statistics Explained article on digital economy and society statistics - households and individuals
• Thematic section on digital economy and society
• Database on digital economy and society
• Digitalization dashboard
• Digitalization in Europe – 2025 edition

Methodological note

The data in this article are based on the annual survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals; the results above refer to internet users, i.e. individuals who have used the internet in the 3 months prior to the survey, and the data reflect their experiences during the last 3 months prior to the survey. 

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