EU Survey: 84% of Europeans Do Not Trust US Tech Companies With Their Personal Data

A new survey of 6,698 people across six European Union countries has found that approximately 84% of respondents do not trust US technology companies with their personal data, while 93% do not trust Chinese technology companies, Politico EU reported. The survey, which covered major EU member states, reveals a deep and consistent skepticism among European citizens toward foreign technology platforms — despite the fact that services from US companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are used by the vast majority of those same respondents on a daily basis. The findings arrive as the EU's Digital Markets Act and Data Act continue to reshape how foreign technology companies must operate within European borders.

What the Survey Found

The survey covered respondents in six EU countries and asked about trust in US and Chinese technology companies specifically regarding personal data handling. The 84% distrust figure for US companies is striking given the market penetration of American platforms across Europe — virtually every respondent is likely a daily user of services from the same companies they say they do not trust with their data. The 93% distrust figure for Chinese companies is even higher, reflecting the additional concern Europeans express about data potentially accessible to the Chinese government through Chinese-owned platforms.

The gap between stated distrust and actual usage behavior is a defining feature of the modern technology market globally. Users consistently report concerns about data privacy while continuing to use the platforms generating those concerns — a dynamic that regulators argue justifies intervention precisely because market mechanisms alone are not correcting for user preferences.

What It Means for EU Tech Policy

The survey gives European regulators fresh public opinion backing for their aggressive approach to technology regulation. The EU has been the most active jurisdiction globally in technology regulation, introducing GDPR (2018), the Digital Markets Act (2022), the AI Act (2024), and the Data Act (2025). Each of these frameworks has generated significant compliance costs for US technology companies and, in some cases, restricted services that are available in other markets.

The data also arrives as European governments are accelerating efforts to develop domestic alternatives to US technology dependence — including the French government's push toward Linux and open-source software and the potential Cohere-Aleph Alpha merger designed to create a European AI champion with government backing. For US companies, the trust deficit is not merely a reputational problem — it is a regulatory and commercial one in the EU's 450-million-person market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries were included in the EU trust survey?

The survey covered 6,698 people across six EU member states. Politico EU did not specify all six countries in its initial reporting, but the sample is designed to be representative of major EU demographics.

Why do Europeans distrust US tech companies despite using their products?

The gap between stated distrust and actual usage reflects what researchers call the "privacy paradox" — users express concern about data practices but continue using services because switching costs are high, alternatives are limited, and the data collection is largely invisible during normal use. Regulators argue this behavioral gap justifies mandatory protections rather than relying on market choice.

How does this affect US tech companies operating in Europe?

High public distrust strengthens the political and regulatory mandate for continued EU enforcement action under GDPR, the Digital Markets Act, and the AI Act. It also gives European governments justification for preferring domestic or EU-based alternatives in government procurement — a significant market for enterprise technology.

The Bottom Line

Eight in ten Europeans not trusting US tech companies with their data is a damning verdict — and one that the data tells us Europeans deliver while simultaneously using those same companies' products. The survey confirms what EU regulators have argued for years: that the absence of trust is a market failure requiring regulatory intervention, not a preference that competition will resolve. For US technology companies, winning back European trust — if that is even achievable — will require more than compliance. It will require a fundamental change in how data practices are visible, controllable, and accountable to users.