Support for more regulation of tech companies has declined in U.S., especially among Republicans

A declining share of Americans favor more government regulation of major technology companies, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Still, a plurality of U.S. adults favor greater regulation of these companies, and a large majority believe it is at least somewhat likely that social media sites censor political viewpoints they find objectionable.

Overall, 44% of Americans think major technology companies should be regulated more than they are now, down from 56% in April 2021. Conversely, the share of Americans who say they want less government regulation of major technology companies has roughly doubled, from about one-in-ten (9%) in previous years to one-in-five today.

These changes are particularly pronounced among Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party, especially those who identify as conservative. In 2021, 59% of conservative Republicans said they favored greater regulation of major tech companies, but the new survey shows that share has dropped to 35%. In that same time, there was a 25 percentage point jump in the share of conservative Republicans who say there should be less government regulation of major technology companies, from 11% to 36%.