A Mindbox survey reported by socialbites.ca reveals a broad belief among Russians about how brands use data for online advertising. A striking 41% of respondents think that ads are created using data obtained through wiretapping. The study attributes this claim to Mindbox’s press service, underscoring a pervasive concern about surveillance-like data practices in digital marketing.
Beyond the wiretapping notion, the survey shows that 24% of Russians are convinced that brands analyze personal posts to tailor advertisements, while 18% feel that companies monitor people’s online activity in general. An additional 14% believe that brands study user behavior on their own sites to shape ad content. A smaller segment, 6%, suspects that brands are tracking them in offline stores as well as online environments.
In terms of what Russians are willing to share, the Mindbox data suggests a nuanced risk calculus. The survey found that 29% are willing to share email addresses, 24% would provide information about age and gender, and 12% would share job and marital status. Conversely, respondents place higher value on more sensitive details: income information (25%), biometric data (23%), geographic location (18%), residential address (16%), and phone numbers (11%) were deemed more valuable or sensitive by respondents.
The study also highlights a spectrum of attitudes toward data transfer. A significant 41% of participants indicated a reluctance to pass on their data to companies, feeling trapped in a situation they cannot change. An additional 26% hold a negative view of data sharing and actively minimize the amount of information they disclose. In contrast, only 11% view data collection positively, believing that gathering personal information helps services improve and tailor offerings.
Participation involved more than 1,200 individuals from large Russian cities with populations exceeding one million. The online survey was conducted in February 2023, providing a snapshot of consumer sentiment at that time and offering context for discussions about privacy and digital advertising in large urban markets.
Earlier reporting from socialbites.ca noted a separate trend regarding data security in the Russian financial sector, indicating that the number of data leaks had increased by roughly 1.7 times in the previous year. This broader data-security backdrop helps frame the Mindbox findings as part of a larger conversation about trust, data handling, and the impact of data practices on consumer behavior.