Samsung Study Flags Public Screen Privacy Risks

Samsung Electronics says a new survey of 11,000 people across Europe found that personal information is frequently exposed during smartphone use in public. The study reported that 56% of respondents had unintentionally viewed another person’s screen, while 24% acknowledged doing so out of curiosity.

The findings point to a gap between users’ perceptions of privacy and the visibility of their screens. Although 48% of respondents believed their phone use remained private in public, 52% said it was easy to see someone else’s display. In addition, 38% said they had postponed or avoided certain activities on their devices because they feared being observed.

Samsung said about one-third of participants had seen personal information on another person’s phone, including messages, photographs, video calls and financial details. Nearly half said they had felt someone looking at their own screen, and 42% reported stopping phone use in response.

The company highlighted its Privacy Display feature on the Galaxy S26 Ultra as a response to these concerns. The built-in technology is designed to limit screen visibility from side angles while preserving direct viewing, Samsung said. The company also pointed to seven years of security updates for the device.