Minnesotans Highly Critical of Tech CEOs, Support A.I. Data Center Accountability
ST. PAUL – A new PPP/Tech Oversight Project survey of Minnesota voters shows near-universal support for lawmakers taking action to tackle Big Tech abuses, and bipartisan agreement that Big Tech companies have too much political power. Minnesotans also strongly support holding Big Tech accountable for negative impacts caused by its data centers in the state.
“An overwhelming majority of Minnesotans – on both sides of the aisle – are crying out for action, and it’s time that elected officials wake up and heed their calls. This issue is a political winner, and politicians would be smart to listen to Minnesota voters and take the fight to Big Tech,” said Sacha Haworth, Executive Director of The Tech Oversight Project.
The survey shows almost universal support among Minnesotans for lawmakers taking action to tackle Big Tech abuses:
- 87% think lawmakers should do more to prevent personal sensitive data from being collected and sold to advertisers.
- 88% support passing a state law to ban surveillance pricing by tech companies.
- 84% support passing a Minnesota Kids Code to protect kids online, including by preventing social media companies from using exploitative algorithms and prohibiting addictive features like overnight push notifications for kids.
- 82% support protecting seniors and veterans from online scams, the majority of which originate on Big Tech social media platforms.
“This polling data validates what Minnesota parents have been telling us loud and clear – it’s time to rein in Big Tech’s harmful practices targeting our kids. The broad consensus across party lines proves that protecting children from online predators and manipulative tech companies transcends politics,” said Erich Mische, CEO of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), a Minnesota-based national suicide prevention organization. “Parents, educators, young people, and community leaders are united in demanding real action from our state capitol. We urge Minnesota lawmakers to build on this year’s social media warning labels victory by advancing comprehensive protections like the Kids Code. When Minnesotans from every corner of the state and every political background are speaking with one voice, our elected officials must respond with the bold legislation our children deserve.”
The survey also shows that bipartisan majorities believe that Big Tech has too much political power:
- 90% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans and 77% of Independents said that executives of Big Tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon have too much influence over government policy.
Minnesotans support policies to hold Big Tech accountable for data center impacts:
- 74% would support a law holding Big Tech companies accountable for the increased energy usage and environmental harm caused by massive data centers in MN.
The Tech Oversight Project is a nonprofit dedicated to holding Big Tech accountable by passing comprehensive antitrust, privacy protections, and children’s safety legislation.
Margin of error: +/- 4.1%