Building a More Inclusive Agenda: A Survey of Congressional Priorities Across Race — Priorities for Technology Policy

In recent years, the discourse around technology’s role in society, especially its implications for privacy, misinformation, and decision-making, has intensified. Advocates for stricter tech regulations emphasize the need to protect individual privacy, curb the spread of misinformation, and ensure fairness in algorithmic decision-making. However, opponents argue that over-regulation could stifle innovation, limit freedom of expression, and hinder technological progress. Amid these discussions, the tech landscape has been punctuated by significant events that underscore the urgency of the debate.

For instance, the 2018 data breach involving Facebook and Cambridge Analytica brought to light the misuse of the personal data of millions of users for targeted political campaigns. This incident served as a watershed moment, spotlighting the pressing vulnerabilities in how online platforms manage and protect user data. The fallout from this event galvanized public opinion, prompting calls from both the public and policymakers for more stringent regulations to safeguard digital privacy and ensure ethical tech practices.

To delve deeper into public sentiment regarding tech policies, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and NORC at the University of Chicago conducted a nationwide survey. This comprehensive survey garnered responses from over 1,200 individuals spanning various racial and ethnic backgrounds, including Black, Hispanic, white, and Multiracial, AAPI, and other respondents. The data was gathered online between Jan. 26 to 30, 2023, leveraging NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak panel.

The survey questioned respondents on how they believe Congress should prioritize various tech-related issues. These issues included: passing legislation to protect online privacy, holding tech companies accountable for people spreading misinformation online, and regulating companies’ use of technology in decision-making processes in job interviews and loan approvals. For each topic, respondents were asked to categorize the issue’s importance, ranging from a top priority to something that should not be pursued.

The results revealed intriguing patterns across racial and ethnic lines. Black respondents (28 percent) were significantly more likely than any other group of respondents to believe that regulation of companies’ use of technology to make decisions about job interviews or loans should be an important or top priority for Congress. Only a small percentage of white (12 percent) and Hispanic (17 percent) respondents viewed this as a top priority. Multiracial, AAPI, and other respondents were more likely than respondents from any other racial or ethnic group to believe that holding tech companies responsible for people spreading misinformation or falsehoods online should be an important or top priority for Congress.

For all respondents across race and ethnicity, the paramount concern was ensuring online privacy. Black respondents were more likely than any other group to believe that passing legislation to protect online privacy and data should be an important or top priority for Congress.

Passing legislation to protect my online privacy and data

Almost three quarters (73 percent) of all respondents say that passing legislation to protect their online privacy and data should be an important or top priority for Congress. Multiracial, AAPI, and other respondents (87 percent) are significantly more likely than respondents from any other racial or ethnic group to believe that passing legislation to protect their online privacy and data should be an important or top priority for Congress. Respondents 60 years old and older (83 percent) were significantly more likely than younger respondents ages 18 to 29 (56 percent) to say that passing legislation that helps to protect their online privacy and data should be an important or top priority for Congress. Respondents with at least a bachelor's degree (82 percent) and those making at least $30,000 were significantly more likely than respondents with no high school diploma (55 percent) and respondents making less than $30,000 (63 percent) to say that passing legislation that protects their online privacy and data should be an important or top priority for Congress. Only two percent of those surveyed said that Congress should not pass legislation that helps to protect their online privacy and data. There are no significant differences according to gender.

Hold technology companies responsible for people spreading misinformation or falsehoods online

Almost two-thirds of respondents (64 percent) think that it should be an important or top priority of Congress to hold technology companies responsible for people spreading misinformation or falsehoods online. Multiracial respondents (83 percent) are significantly more likely than respondents of any other racial or ethnic group to believe that holding technology companies responsible for people spreading misinformation or falsehoods online should be an important or top priority for Congress. Respondents making at least $100,000 (71 percent) are significantly more likely than respondents making less than $30,000 (57 percent) to believe that holding technology companies responsible for people spreading misinformation or falsehoods online should be an important or top priority for Congress. Respondents at least 60 years old (71 percent) are significantly more likely than younger respondents ages 18 to 29 (50 percent) to agree that it should be an important or top priority of Congress to hold technology companies responsible for people spreading misinformation or falsehoods online. Respondents who earned at least a bachelor’s degree (73 percent) are more likely than any other educational obtainment group to say that holding technology companies responsible for people spreading misinformation or falsehoods online should be an important or top priority for Congress. There are no significant differences according to gender.

Regulating companies use of technology to make decisions about job interviews and loans

Over 40 percent of respondents believe that regulating companies’ use of technology to make decisions about job interviews and loans should be an important or top priority for Congress. Black respondents (60 percent) are significantly more likely than respondents of other races and ethnicities to believe that regulation of companies' use of technology to make decisions about job interviews and loans should be an important or top priority for Congress. Respondents who do not have a high school diploma (31 percent) are significantly less likely than respondents with at least some college (47 percent) and respondents with at least a bachelors’ degree (47 percent) to believe that regulating companies’ use of technology to make decisions about job interviews and loans should be an important or top priority of Congress. There are no significant differences according to income and gender.