Republican pollster Jim Hobart told Hill.TV on Monday that consumers’ frustrations with how big tech companies handle personal data have not yet had a negative impact on business.
“For as much frustrations as people might say they have with the Amazons, the Googles and the Facebooks of the world because they are selling your data, guess what? People are still using Facebook, they’re still using Amazon, they’re still using Google,” Hobart told host Jamal Simmons on “What America’s Thinking.”
“So it hasn’t gotten to the point where they’re changing action. They still like Amazon Prime to be at their door in two days,” he continued.
Tech giants have come under fire amid a series of data breaches impacting thousands of users and customers, as well as ongoing questions about privacy and business practices.
The Trump administration has accused Amazon of skirting government rules to maximize profits, while Democrats have called out the role of monopolies in big tech.
The issue has also played a growing role in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) last week called for breaking up large tech companies, arguing that the biggest tech corporations have gained “too much power over our economy, our society, and our democracy.”
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) has also called for reform in the tech industry, saying regulations aimed at protecting net neutrality and internet privacy should be put on big tech corporations.
A new Hill-HarrisX survey released on Monday found that 53 percent of respondents said big tech firms should be allowed to operate freely, while 47 percent said the companies should face more government rules.
— Julia Manchester
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