More than two-thirds of Dutch online platforms collected data from platform users in 2022. At 82 percent of these online platforms, users can find on the website what data the platform collects from them. This is according to CBS' new Monitor online platforms 2022.
Online platforms are websites or apps that mediate between buyers and providers of goods, services or information. Most platforms target businesses and households (or self-employed people), a quarter of platforms have only households as users. Since 2019, CBS has been conducting (experimental) research on online platforms. The platforms participating in this research are found through an analysis of websites.
More than two-thirds of online platforms collected data from platform users in 2022. For 82 percent of online platforms that collect user data, the website lists exactly what data is collected. For 12 percent of platforms, partial mention is made of what data is involved. 7 percent of the platforms mention
Almost 1 in 3 online platforms in the Netherlands used algorithms in 2022. An algorithm is a set of (decision) rules used to make processes run automatically. 68 percent of platforms used algorithms to link platform users, called matching. It is not always clear to platform users how this works and how this matching is done. 45 percent of the platforms indicate that the website shows what decision rules the algorithm consists of, 55 percent do not.
A quarter of platforms also use algorithms to select ads for certain target audiences. For 41 percent of platforms, the website clearly states which decision rules are used to show ads to a particular user.
With online platforms, a user is often shown search results with several providers or products to choose from. In 16 percent of platforms that work with search results, providers can appear higher in search results for a fee. In the remaining 84 percent, this is not possible. In 72 percent of cases, when providers have paid to move higher in search results, this is visible to the user.
87 percent of platforms check the authenticity of reviews and ratings of products or providers on their site. 39 percent of the platforms check this themselves; a smaller proportion (11 percent) have the reviews checked by an external party. At 37 percent of the platforms, users can only post a review or rating after being invited by the platform, for example after purchasing a product.
