Posted on 17 September 2020
It’s no secret that Americans have a complicated relationship with Big Tech, and a recent study from FleishmanHillard highlights just how complicated this relationship can be.
FleishmanHillard, a St. Louis-based marketing agency and public relations firm, found that “consumers want the technology sector to take a long hard look at its policies and practices.”
According to the study, one-third of Americans want more regulations on Big Tech. Meanwhile, 59 percent believe that the industry is “Regulated about the right amount.”
Although most Americans do not believe that the tech industry needs more regulations, most people believe that companies need to address the consequences of their policies.
The study found that 56 percent of Americans at least somewhat agreed with the statement: “In order to (re)build trust as good corporate citizens who do what’s right for consumers, technology companies need to take more action to address the consequences of their policies, practices and products.” Thirty-one percent of American participants neither agreed nor disagreed with the statement, while only 13 percent disagreed.
Although most Americans do believe that Big Tech companies need to “take more action,” respondents did, overall, express a fair amount of trust in the same companies. 67 percent of participants said that they at least somewhat trust Big Tech companies.
Those who do want more regulations for Big Tech may get their wish soon. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently introduced legislation to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The Federal Trade Commission is preparing a possible antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, and Google testified before the Senate in an antitrust hearing on September 15.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact the FCC at 1-888-225-5322 and submit a comment on the petition filed by the Department of Commerce regarding Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on “hate speech” and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us at the Media Research Center contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.