8 in 10 Europeans don’t trust US, Chinese firms with data

 

8 in 10 Europeans don’t trust US, Chinese firms with data

 

Europe is rolling out measures to keep data local and reduce reliance on foreign tech.

 

April 10, 2026 11:09 am CET

By Ellen O'Regan

https://www.politico.eu/article/8-in-10-europeans-dont-trust-us-chinese-firms-with-data/

 

More than 8 in 10 Europeans don't trust American or Chinese technology companies with their data, a new POLITICO European Pulse survey of six major EU countries showed.

 

Around 84 percent of people said they don't trust American tech companies to handle their personal data responsibly. Trust in Chinese tech firms is even lower among Europeans: 93 percent said they don't trust them to be responsible with their data.

 

The poll comes as Europe is trying to boost homegrown technology across artificial intelligence, cloud, telecoms and beyond, and reduce its reliance on foreign tech giants, notably American and Chinese firms.

 

While people trust European tech companies more, only half of respondents (51 percent) said they trust homegrown tech firms with their personal data. Slightly fewer respondents (45 percent) said they trusted their national government with their information.

 

The European Pulse survey, conducted by Cluster17 for POLITICO and beBartlet, polled 6,698 Europeans across Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Belgium from March 13 to March 21.

 

German respondents were the most mistrusting of U.S. and Chinese tech: 91 percent said they don't trust American companies with their data and 98 percent distrust Chinese firms.

 

People in Poland were among the most trusting of non-European tech companies, with 38 percent saying they trust U.S. firms with their data and 20 percent saying they trust Chinese tech companies to handle their data responsibly.

 

Belgian respondents trust European firms the most: 59 percent said they believe European tech companies would be responsible when handling their data.

 

Any company processing the personal data of Europeans, regardless of where they are based, is required to follow the EU's privacy rules, including its flagship General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

 

But tech firms based in the U.S. or China also have to navigate domestic security laws, under which authorities can ask them to hand over data — a risk that has raised concerns among Europe's courts and privacy regulators.

 

Hanne Cokelaere contributed reporting.