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Are you worried about your online privacy? Then you are in good company, according to research released by Big Brother Watch this week.

According to the study, 79% of people say they are concerned about their online privacy, while three-quarters (74%) want more control over their personal data.

The study follows a landmark High Court case in which UK Google users claimed that the tracking and gathering of information about their internet use by the search giant amounts to a misuse of personal information and a breach of the Data Protection Act.

The case was launched after Google took the controversial move in 2012 to streamline more than 60 privacy policies into one - breaking EU data protection and privacy rules in the process.

In January 2015 the UK's data regulator, the Information Commissioners Office, said it had signed a formal undertaking to improve the information Google provides about how it collects people's data - but Big Brother Watch feels that the agreement hasn't changed much and is too weak to enforce.

(Image: Getty)

That concern seems to be reflected by members of the public - 72% of people believe the ICO should be doing more to force Google to comply with data regulations, while 58% of people feel that companies should NEVER gather people’s personal data unless they explain why and for what purpose it should be used.

Emma Carr, Director of Big Brother Watch, said: "It is vital that technology companies respect the privacy of citizens and don't assume that our engagement as consumers overrides the necessity for choice and control over our personal data.

"The public are making it clear that they want to see moves for more opting out of data sharing, stronger enforcement of data protection laws by privacy regulators and the need for privacy by design to be the standard for all future technologies."

Despite the criticism, the ICO seems to agree, saying the report reflects "our own research that people are concerned about how their personal data is used online".

"This is why the ICO is working hard to ensure that organisations improve their privacy policies so they can be transparent with people about how their data is going to be used and enable them to have effective control over their data," said an ICO spokesperson.

"We are also working to develop a privacy seal scheme that will enable consumers to easily recognise organisations who meet who high standards of data protection."