U.S. Views on Tech Regulation: Public Opinion and Policy Trends

The U.S. is increasingly focused on regulating technology as public opinion shifts toward greater oversight of tech giants. Concerns over privacy, data security, and monopolistic practices are driving policy discussions at the federal and state levels. Policymakers and the public are debating how to balance innovation with accountability, shaping the future of tech regulation in the U.S.

In February 2024, a Pew Research Center survey revealed that 51 percent of U.S. adults favored increased regulation of major tech companies like Meta, Alphabet, or Amazon, while only 16 percent supported less regulation. This figure represents a return to 2018 levels of support for regulation, following a dip to 44 percent two years earlier.

The rise in support for stricter tech regulations may be linked to controversies surrounding generative AI chatbots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. These chatbots are primarily trained on publicly available data, often without explicit consent from users or platform holders. However, the Pew survey did not delve into the reasons behind the demand for stronger regulation.

Despite the absence of significant regulatory barriers specifically targeting AI and ongoing complaints by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against big tech for alleged anti-competitive practices, 31 percent of 2024 survey respondents believe that current regulations should remain unchanged.

In 2024, public interest has been piqued by three major antitrust cases in the U.S. tech industry. In March, the DOJ, along with 16 states, filed a complaint against Apple, accusing the company of using its market dominance to make it harder for users to switch to other brands, effectively creating a restrictive "walled garden" ecosystem.

Two other notable cases involve Alphabet’s Google. A DOJ complaint filed in 2020 accused Google of monopolizing the online search market through exclusive deals to make its search engine the default on various browsers and devices. The case went to trial in 2023, and Google was found guilty of anti-competitive behavior on August 5, 2024. Judge Amit Mehta is expected to announce remedies to restore competition in the summer of 2025.

Another antitrust case against Google, related to an alleged illegal monopoly in online advertising, had its first hearing on September 9 following a DOJ complaint in 2023. Alphabet's advertising revenue reached $238 billion in the past year, vastly overshadowing its competitors' earnings.

For questions or comments write to writers@bostonbrandmedia.com

Source: statista‍