74% of Canadians Take Data-Protection Steps as AI Use Jumps to 46%
Updated
Updated · GlobeNewswire · Jul 28
74% of Canadians Take Data-Protection Steps as AI Use Jumps to 46%
1 articles · Updated · GlobeNewswire · Jul 28
Summary
CIRA’s 2026 survey found 74% of Canadians have acted on privacy concerns, including 41% declining app permissions, 34% deleting apps and 22% using a VPN.
67% say it matters that personal data be stored in Canada, and that trust is spilling into commerce: 65% prefer Canadian online retailers, while 73% are comfortable buying from Canadian sites versus 42% from U.S. ones.
46% used generative AI in the past year—up from 16% in 2024—but 56% remain concerned and 53% say they encountered AI-generated fake content.
31% still find internet and cellphone costs unaffordable, 42% have cut other spending to stay connected, and 24% changed plans to lower bills.
21% experienced a major home internet disruption in 2025, with 49% relying on cellphone hotspots during outages, underscoring how trust, affordability and reliability now shape Canadians’ digital choices.