Poll Finds Shift in Perception of Big Tech and Government Threats
A recent Fox News poll indicates that many voters now perceive Big Tech as a greater threat to the country’s future than big government, a notable shift from seven years ago.
The poll shows that 52% of voters believe Big Tech poses a larger threat compared to 47% who think the same about big government, marking a 28-point turnaround since 2019. Back then, concerns were much more focused on government actions (58%) than tech firms (35%), especially prior to the advent of ChatGPT.
This increasing unease towards Big Tech is evident among various demographic groups, with the exception of very conservative voters, who view big government as more concerning by an 11-point margin, and mothers, who lean towards government fear by 8 points. Republicans and independents appear split on which is the more significant threat.
Chris Anderson, from Beacon Research, noted that as AI becomes part of daily life, voters are reassessing the balance of power. “People are shifting their concerns from government overreach to the influence of tech companies, questioning if the rapid growth is concentrating too much authority in hands that lack public accountability,” he stated.
Opinions on AI itself are mixed. About 14% each describe it as innovative, useful, or a bad idea. Additionally, 12% express caution, while 10% find it frightening. Some feel intrigued or excited about it, but others mention concerns over job loss, disruption, or privacy issues, albeit at lower percentages.
Interestingly, the number of individuals perceiving AI as dangerous has decreased from 16% in 2023 to 10% now, with many demographic groups showing increasing acceptance. However, older voters, particularly those over 65, remain largely skeptical.
On the flip side, the sentiment that AI is innovative and useful has increased, now at 14% compared to just 7% in 2023, with notable growth among younger and non-white voters.
Daily AI usage is reportedly on the rise, with 18% of respondents indicating they use it every day, a jump from 11% last June. This rise is more pronounced among men and independent voters, while younger voters have also increased their daily use significantly.
Despite this growth, a sizable portion of the population still rarely (21%) or never (32%) engage with AI, which hasn’t changed much since last summer.
There is notable resistance to AI data centers in local areas, with a significant 67% opposing their development and 43% strongly against it. The level of opposition varies, with higher resistance generally from women, older adults, and Democrats.
Interestingly, those who think AI is revolutionary tend to support the establishment of data centers, and so do those who use AI regularly.
“The emergence of AI data centers as a political issue is a compelling narrative for 2026,” remarked Daron Shaw. “While pushing back against them may seem successful now, opinions on AI regulation are still evolving.”
Despite concerns, a majority (79%) believes that AI will ultimately govern technology rather than the reverse, a sentiment reflecting views from nearly three decades earlier.
In this survey, women, older voters, and Republicans felt slightly more versed in technology compared to younger men and Democrats.
The Fox News investigation, conducted from June 12 to 15, 2026, involved a sample of 1,002 registered voters selected randomly. The results have a margin of error of ±3 percentage points, with potential variations depending on demographic subsets and question phrasing.
