Europeans and Technology: Attitudes and Strategic Implications
The European Tech Insights 2025 report, released by the Center for the Governance of Change at IE University, analyzes Europeans’ attitudes toward rapid technological change and its social and geopolitical implications. The findings are based on a survey of more than 3,000 adults across 10 EU countries. The report’s main conclusions suggest that citizens support technological progress—but not at any price—with strong demands for safety, democratic oversight, inclusion, and the preservation of social values. Strategic autonomy and economic security are gaining prominence among citizens’ priorities, who are increasingly willing to prioritize resilience over efficiency.
Main takeaways of the report:
- Europeans embrace technological progress, but not at any price. Even though competitiveness features prominently in Europe’s political agenda, only 22% see it as the top technological priority, compared with 42% who prioritise safety and resilience and 36% who place inclusion first. The same pattern appears in AI investment: 71% would rather channel public funds into education or healthcare. For citizens, technological progress is expected to reinforce social welfare rather than compete with it.
- Aligned with the US, yet increasingly open to China. While a majority still favour alignment with the United States, support for China has increased by 15 points since 2023.
- Strategic autonomy emerges as a core public priority. Survey results point to a clear demand to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty and security, even above economic convenience or global openness.
- Almost half of Europeans would accept higher defence spending even if it required cuts in social budgets.
- 63% prefer security-related technologies manufactured in Europe, even at a higher cost, and 40% would pay more for tech products to reduce dependence on China.
- 72% want sensitive data stored exclusively on European servers, and 70% would support restricting the export of sensitive technologies to rival countries.
- AI: cautious enthusiasm and rising scepticism. European citizens reject delegating critical functions to AI systems:
- 77% oppose its use in early childhood education.
- 81% would not entrust their personal finances to algorithms.
- 90% would rather have a human manager than an artificial one.
- Concerns about cultural homogenisation, technological dependence and impacts on social cohesion are rising across demographic groups.
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