Understanding emerging technology implications

The IE Center for the Governance of Change released the European Tech Insights 2022 report based on an annual survey to 3,005 adults from 10 countries (Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom). The report explores attitudes towards technological change with the aim of understanding how technology is transforming our lives and how it should be governed. This year, in the context of the war, the analysis reveals concerns among citizens about cyberattacks and fake news. The report also looks into the harmful use of technology, digital rights, automation and the future of work, and the digitalization of money.

Key highlights:

• Technology and democracy: Almost two thirds of Europeans (64.1%) believe that technology is strengthening democracy - UK (42.2%) and Spain (43.7%) have the smallest share of citizens who agree with this statement), but a large majority of them (67.3%) are worried about the possibility of a cyberattack on critical infrastructures in their country.
  
  
• Disinformation: Most of European citizens (51.5%) would like to make disinformation illegal so that those who spread fake news on social media can be sanctioned. Many Europeans (42.2%) believe they have been the victim of fake news related to the Ukrainian conflict.
  
  
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Trust in AI among Europeans is growing: more than a third (34.8%), and a majority of those under 35 years old, believe an AI algorithm would be more productive at work than their boss.
  
  
• Future of work: While a majority (60.4%) do not believe their job will be automated within the next 10 years, most of them favour strict regulations that would limit automation by law to save jobs.
  
  
• Digital rights: a significant proportion of under 25-year-olds (42.5%) are willing to pay more taxes to be able to provide internet for free to those who can’t afford it. A large majority of Europeans (57.4%), especially the younger generations, also back the right to disconnect after office hours.
  
  
• Digitalization of money: More than a third of Europeans and most citizens under 35 would prefer to use a digital currency (Digital Euro, Digital Pound, etc.) rather than cash. Romanians (51.7%), Swedes (48.7%) and Estonians (47.4%) are the most enthusiastic about the use of digital currencies over cash.