As web-based services become more popular and common in handling everyday tasks online, public sector websites have also become a very important part of essential digital services. On crucial websites like government websites, where sensitive personal data may be processed, privacy issues become increasingly important. In this study, we examine third party services used in 63 Finnish government websites, and what personal data is potentially leaking to these third parties. We also study adequacy of consent mechanisms on these websites and assess how well they inform the users on these data transfers. Our findings show that while the number of third parties and data leaks is relatively low, the websites still have privacy issues like insufficient consent mechanisms, dark patterns, and informing users inadequately about data processing activities.

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Third-Party Data Leaks and Privacy Compliance on Finnish Government Websites

  • Sammani Rajapaksha,
  • Timi Heino,
  • Sampsa Rauti,
  • Panu Puhtila,
  • Ville Leppänen

摘要

As web-based services become more popular and common in handling everyday tasks online, public sector websites have also become a very important part of essential digital services. On crucial websites like government websites, where sensitive personal data may be processed, privacy issues become increasingly important. In this study, we examine third party services used in 63 Finnish government websites, and what personal data is potentially leaking to these third parties. We also study adequacy of consent mechanisms on these websites and assess how well they inform the users on these data transfers. Our findings show that while the number of third parties and data leaks is relatively low, the websites still have privacy issues like insufficient consent mechanisms, dark patterns, and informing users inadequately about data processing activities.