Microsoft has launched the results of a large global survey that reveals some of the impacts that mobile and other personal technologies are having around the world.

The results, revealed at the Davos World Economic Forum, a meeting of the global elite, found that innovation in business, the ability to startup, education, productivity and economic opportunity topped the list of positive impacts cited by 10,000 internet users across 10 countries.

Literacy, human rights, family bonds and personal safety were all said to have seen the least positive impact from new technology, while privacy had by far and away seen the most negative impact.

Mark Penn, executive VP, advertising and strategy at Microsoft, pointed out some of the  variations across the countries surveyed: “Chinese citizens, for example, say that personal technology has positively impacted personal freedom more than people in any other country surveyed. Developing countries – especially India – say that personal technology is improving education and health as well as healthcare.”

“Notably, people around the world perceive personal technology to be driving innovations across all sectors. This phenomenon is particularly true in the developing world, where people see personal technology as the foundation of economic empowerment. It is seen as key to creating job opportunities and helping bridge economic gaps.”

Penn said that the developing world is more willing than the developed world to trade privacy for security, particularly true in India, according to the results, but perhaps unsurprising given its relative instability. Germany is the least willing to sacrifice privacy for security.

The countries surveyed were: China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Germany, Turkey, the US, Japan and France. The UK was not included in the survey, perhaps indicating where Microsoft feels its marketing efforts are and are not well-placed.

Click here for the full survey results.