(Telecompaper) Consumers are increasingly wary about how their information is being used, do not feel in control and to not believe there are any resources to help educate them on how to manage their data online, according to research released by Orange. The first instalment an independent three-part study with consumers in France, the UK, Spain and Poland states that 78 percent of consumers find it hard to trust companies when it comes to the way they use personal data and 78 percent also feel that service providers hold too much information about consumers' behaviour and preferences. At the same time, 82 percent feel they have little power to control the way personal data is used by organisations. The operator's call to action for the industry is focused on three key areas: transparency, control and education. It argues that the industry needs to be more answerable and transparent about data usage and data sharing. It feels the industry needs to provide tools to allow customers to control their data, dialing up or down as they wish, and to receive services and benefits accordingly. Orange also proposes that the industry act as a "collective consumer champion" and show the way forward in educating the consumer about how to control their data.