A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

Mar 15, 2021

Survey: 78 Percent of Tech Workers Think Tech Industry Is Too Powerful

Tech workers protesting the way tech treats users, works on intrusive government and industry projects or discriminates against women and people of color are not a minority, contrary to tech industry belief. JL

Protocol reports:

78% of employees said the tech industry is too powerful. And when asked only about Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Alphabet, the number was practically identical. 73% of employees said they want regulation for AI, and 71% of those familiar with Section 230 said it needs to be reformed. (But while) 40% think the big four should be broken up, 68% hope get acquired by one of those. Executives might like to think that the employees staging walkouts and complaining about working on government projects are just a loud minority that doesn't represent the whole, but they're wrong

We hear a lot from the Jack Dorseys and Sundar Pichais of the world, but what do the thousands of other employees at tech companies actually think about the big issues facing the industry? That's what Protocol asked 1,504 tech employees at all levels, from all over the U.S.

A few highlights from the survey, which you can read in its entirety on Protocol:

  • 78% of employees said the tech industry is too powerful. And when we asked only about Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Alphabet, the number was practically identical.
  • 56% said that U.S. restrictions on Chinese tech companies have gone too far, and 58% said they worry about the repercussions of a cold war with China. Far more people think tech should avoid working with law enforcement than think it should avoid working with China.
  • Regulation is a popular idea. 73% of employees said they wanted regulation for AI, and more than 71% of those familiar with Section 230 said it needs to be reformed.

One overarching narrative that sticks out here: While executives might like to think that the employees staging walkouts and complaining about working on government projects are just a loud minority that doesn't actually represent the team as a whole, they're wrong.

  • And the tech industry is actually deeply divided on a lot of issues: 45% of our respondents said tech does more good than harm, for instance, while 40% said the opposite. Just over 40% think the big four companies should be broken up, but more than 68% hope they partner with or get acquired by one of those same four.
  • The reckoning is real, the answers aren't obvious, and the employees fighting for change represent more of the company than you might think.





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