Americans still trust USPS
When it comes to safeguarding personal information, Americans continue to trust the USPS above all other government agencies. For the sixth consecutive year, the Postal Service has been named the “Most Trusted Government Agency” by the premier privacy trust study in America.
More than 87% of the 9,000 Americans surveyed by the Ponemon Institute in its 2010 Privacy Trust Study of the United States Government ranked the Postal Service first among 75 federal government agencies.
The results show that Americans view the Postal Service as the government agency that is best able to keep their information safe and secure. The average score among federal agencies included in the survey was 38%, down from 50% last year, with an increasing concern among Americans about the government’s surveillance in their personal lives.
The Postal Service has held the top spot since the first privacy trust survey of the United States Government was completed in 2004. In addition, the Postal Service has consistently improved its privacy trust score during this time from 78% to the current rating of 87%.
“When you visit every door every day, trust is critical,” said Delores Killette, USPS consumer advocate and vice president. “It is the cornerstone of our mission to deliver reliable and affordable mail service to every American, as well as a great source of pride for postal employees across the country.”
The Postal Service handles 40% of the world’s card and letter volume and delivers more mail to more addresses in a larger geographical area than any other post in the world. Despite the vast size of the Postal Service’s network and scope of operations, many Americans know their letter carriers by name and see them as welcomed and trusted members of the local community, Killette said.
“We have a 230-year tradition of securing the mail and protecting our customers’ personal information,” said Killette. “This survey clearly demonstrates that Americans continue to trust and depend on the Postal Service to protect their privacy.”
