Americans Want Big Tech Power Curbed
A new survey found that 70 percent of Americans believe that Big Tech and its CEOs have too much power, and 68 percent think the government should use antitrust laws against the industry. The YouGov poll, which surveyed 1,200 adults, also revealed that only 3 percent opposed such action.
Americans are growing increasingly uneasy about the influence of Big Tech.
The poll’s findings suggest that this unease is driven by concerns about data collection and the use of personal data, with 90 percent of respondents expressing concern.
Antitrust Laws and Big Tech
The survey found that 67 percent of Americans support bipartisan efforts to strengthen antitrust laws. This sentiment is not limited to antitrust laws, as a separate poll conducted by CBS News/YouGov in June found that 50 percent of respondents did not want to live near a data center.
They cited concerns about the potential impact on local resources, such as water and electricity, with 63 percent saying the impact would be mostly bad. Additionally, 60 percent worried that data centers were mostly harmful to the environment.
Concerns about data centers have helped block projects worth an estimated $130 billion in the first quarter of the year. From January to March, 75 projects were delayed or blocked by opponents.
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Data Center Watch stated that the opposition to data centers has consolidated into a national political force. The organization noted that the second half of 2025 marked a turning point, as data center opposition shifted from individual zoning disputes to a broader movement.
As the recent YouGov poll suggests, Americans are frustrated with Big Tech, but they still use technology, including AI. 72 percent of respondents said they had used AI in the past three months, and about 3 in 5 said the experience was positive.
Harry Godfrey, executive director of the Little Tech Association, said, “Americans have made themselves clear. They love what technology can do, and they are deeply uneasy about how much power a handful of giant companies now hold over it.”
It is likely that this growing unease could lead to increased scrutiny of Big Tech’s business practices and a push for more regulation. As the use of technology continues to evolve, Americans will expect more transparency and accountability from the industry.
The YouGov poll’s findings are a reminder that, while Americans appreciate the benefits of technology, they also want to see checks on the power of Big Tech. As the debate over antitrust laws and data centers continues, Americans are looking for a more balanced approach to the industry’s development.
