Japanese Data Privacy Awareness Ranked Lowest Globally in 22-Country NordVPN Survey

NordVPN, a leading provider of personal security services (HQ: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Japan Representative: Takuro Obara), has released the results of a comprehensive Data Privacy Awareness Survey involving 22,000 participants from 22 countries. Japan ranked last in all five measured criteria—Knowledge, Confidence, Control, Notification, and Risk Mitigation—indicating the lowest sense of personal data agency among the surveyed nations.

Survey Framework and Metrics The study analyzed online data privacy through five key dimensions, with participants providing self-assessments on a 5-point scale: - **Knowledge**: Understanding of data collection and usage by services and SNS. - **Confidence**: Sense of security when entering online payment information. - **Control**: Feeling of mastery over personal data handling. - **Notification**: Expectation for immediate alerts during data breaches. - **Risk Mitigation**: Proactive defensive behaviors, such as regular setting checks.

Global Rankings and Japan's Position The global average score stood at 71%. Mexico topped the list at 81%, followed by Hong Kong and Taiwan (both 79%). In stark contrast, Japan recorded a score of only 53%, a significant 13-point drop from the next lowest country, Belgium (66%), and 18 points below the global average.

Japan's Unique 'Institutional Dependency' Mindset A notable finding for Japan is the gap between expectations and reality. While 77% of Japanese respondents demand immediate notification of data breaches, only 39% feel they are capable of controlling their own data. This 38-point gap is the third-largest globally, following Sweden and Norway.

NordVPN CTO Marius Briedis noted, 'Many people feel that ultimately the fate of their data is decided by apps and corporations, leading to a sense of powerlessness.' This psychological structure, observed in Japan and the Nordic countries, reflects an 'institutional dependency' where users rely on government and corporate systems for solutions rather than taking autonomous action, highlighting a lack of proactive engagement in the digital age.