3 in 5 Americans trust federal and state government to intervene on tech policy, with only 5% trusting of Big Tech CEOs
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, The Tech Oversight Project released a nationwide survey conducted by Public Policy Polling showing that a majority of Americans trust government over Big Tech executives to make policy decisions that affect the tech industry, and after learning about Big Tech’s record, Americans disapproved of Big Tech CEOs by large margins – without any statistical downside to messaging against Big Tech.
“As Americans continue to see the dangerous effects of social media platforms on youth, the creation of AI scams and harmful algorithms, and tech companies undermining national security by catering to China and Russia, it should come as no surprise that the American people do not have faith in the status quo of our digital lives,” said Sacha Haworth, Executive Director of The Tech Oversight Project. “An overwhelming majority of Americans – on both sides of the aisle – are crying out for government intervention, and it’s time that elected officials wake up and heed their calls. This issue is a political winner, and as election season heats up, candidates across the country would be smart to take the fight to Big Tech.”
Key Findings:
- Nearly 60% of Americans trust the federal government or state governments to make policy decisions that affect the tech industry.
- By contrast, only 5% of Americans trust big tech executives to make policy decisions that impact the industry.
- After learning about Meta’s actions to enrich itself while endangering children online, seven in ten Americans have an unfavorable opinion of CEO Mark Zuckerberg – with 50% holding a very unfavorable view.
- After learning about Google’s actions to stifle competition and censor speech online, three in five Americans have an unfavorable opinion of CEO Sundar Pichai – with 40% holding a very unfavorable view.
- After learning about Apple’s actions to support autocratic regimes in China and China and its effort to censor speech online, six in ten Americans have an unfavorable opinion of CEO Tim Cook – with 37% holding a very unfavorable view.
- After learning about Amazon’s anticompetitive practices, efforts to destroy evidence, and its actions to prop up the Chinese government, more than two in three Americans have an unfavorable opinion of Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos – with 42% holding a very unfavorable view.
- There was no statistical downside to messaging critically on Big Tech’s record or its CEOs.
- Both Democrats, Republicans, and Independents were more likely to disapprove of Big Tech after hearing negative messaging.
- Republicans disapprove of Big Tech CEOs by the largest margin.
- 75% disapprove of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
- 69% disapprove of Google CEO Sundar Pichai
- 70% disapprove of Apple CEO Tim Cook
- 70% disapprove of Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos
- Democrats were more likely to change their opinion on Big Tech CEOs after negative messaging.
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- 68% disapprove of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg – an 8% increase in disapproval
- 56% disapprove of Google CEO Sundar Pichai – an 11% increase in disapproval
- 55% disapprove of Apple CEO Tim Cook – a 21% increase in disapproval
- 66% disapprove of Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos – a 10% increase in disapproval
- An overwhelming majority of Independents also disapprove of Big Tech CEOs.
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- 67% disapprove of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
- 56% disapprove of Google CEO Sundar Pichai
- 54% disapprove of Apple CEO Tim Cook
- 68% disapprove of Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos
- Hispanic and Latino Americans disapprove of Big Tech CEOs and their records by large majorities and with great intensity.
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- 78% disapprove of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
- 60% very unfavorable
- 67% disapprove of Google CEO Sundar Pichai
- 58% very unfavorable
- 74% disapprove of Apple CEO Tim Cook
- 53% very unfavorable
- 77% disapprove of Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos
- 45% very unfavorable
- 78% disapprove of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg