Story Highlights 48% of U.S. adults favor more government regulation of big technology firms

40% say regulation of tech companies should not change; 10% prefer a decrease

Liberals more likely than conservatives to favor tighter controls

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As a group of state attorneys general prepare to investigate whether large technology companies have become monopolies, the U.S. consumers these officials aim to protect are divided on the need for such scrutiny.

Close to half of U.S. adults (48%) in an Aug. 1-14 Gallup poll say the government should increase its regulation of technology companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google. On the other hand, 40% believe government regulation of these firms shouldn't change and 10% think they should face less government regulation.

Americans' Views on Government Regulation of Technology Companies Do you think the government should increase, decrease or not change its regulation of technology companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google? Increase Decrease Not change No opinion % % % % U.S. adults 48 10 40 2 Gallup, Aug. 1-14, 2019

Large technology companies maintain that they do not engage in anti-competitive practices. Nevertheless, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal earlier this week, a number of state attorneys general -- believed to be a bipartisan group -- are preparing a joint antitrust investigation into possible anti-competitive practices by Big Tech. This is on top of similar inquiries already underway by the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission.

More View Technology Firms Positively Than Negatively

The 50% of U.S. adults who favor no additional regulation of technology firms aligns with the 46% of Americans in the same poll who have a generally positive opinion of the sector. That's significantly more than the 33% viewing technology companies negatively. Meanwhile, 22% say they have a neutral view of these firms. (See the table at the end of this article for detailed demographic breaks on views of technology companies.)

Americans' Overall Views of Technology Companies Please say whether your overall view of technology companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google is very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative or very negative. U.S. adults % Very positive 15 Somewhat positive 31 Neutral 22 Somewhat negative 23 Very negative 10 No opinion * * = less than 0.5% Gallup, Aug. 1-14, 2019

Union Members, Liberals, College Grads Back Regulation the Most

Public support for bringing more government regulation to bear on technology firms is higher among traditionally left-leaning demographics -- groups typically more likely to favor increased government regulation of private entities. Roughly six in 10 self-identified liberals, union members, college graduates and Democrats say that government should increase its regulation of firms like Amazon, Google and Facebook.

Additionally, young adults are slightly less likely than seniors to favor more regulation of Big Tech. But rather than want to see regulation of the technology sector weaken, young adults are more likely to say the regulatory environment should not change.

Americans' Views on Government Regulation of Technology Companies, by Subgroup Increase Not change Decrease % % % U.S. adults 48 40 10 Men 48 39 11 Women 48 41 9 Non-Hispanic whites 50 38 10 Non-Hispanic blacks 45 45 10 Hispanics 44 48 8 18 to 29 44 44 12 30 to 49 47 40 11 50 to 64 49 43 6 65+ 52 34 12 College graduate 58 32 8 Not college graduate 43 44 11 Republicans 48 39 12 Independents 43 43 12 Democrats 56 38 5 Conservatives 44 42 12 Moderates 47 43 9 Liberals 59 33 8 Union member 60 32 8 Not union member 47 41 10 Gallup, Aug. 1-14, 2019

The gap between Republicans' and Democrats' views on regulating Big Tech is still relatively mild as far as partisan differences go. That could reflect the various cross-pressures created by a Republican presidential administration pushing for tighter regulation of an industry that's viewed more positively than negatively by Americans. But this bears watching as the investigations play out and consumers become more familiar with the issues at hand.

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