Vast majority of Europeans say they don’t trust US — and especially Chinese — tech firms with their data

Key findings

It has been reported that a new POLITICO European Pulse survey of 6,698 people across six EU countries found deep skepticism about foreign tech firms: around 84% of respondents said they don't trust American tech companies to handle their personal data responsibly, and 93% said the same of Chinese firms. The poll, conducted by Cluster17 for POLITICO and beBartlet from March 13–21, paints a stark picture: more than eight in ten Europeans are uneasy handing their data to non‑European giants.

Country splits and domestic trust

Mistrust is not uniform. German respondents were the most skeptical — 91% distrust US firms and 98% distrust Chinese ones. Poland stood out at the other end: 38% said they trust US tech, and 20% trust Chinese tech. Belgians expressed the most faith in European companies, with 59% trusting homegrown firms. Still, even European tech only won a slim majority (51%), and just 45% trusted their national governments with personal information. Not exactly a warm and fuzzy moment for anyone in tech.

Why it matters

This mood comes as Brussels is pushing for “tech sovereignty” — more homegrown AI, cloud and telecom capacity, and measures to keep data local. It has been reported that, while any company processing Europeans' data must follow GDPR, US and Chinese firms also face domestic security laws that can compel handovers of data — a legal tension that fuels public worry. So what happens next? Expect policymakers to wave this poll around as justification for stricter procurement rules, data‑localization nudges and tougher market access conditions.

Trust is an emotional currency. Surveys like this show it’s in short supply — and policy, corporate behavior and court decisions will be the slow work to earn it back. Who will move fastest: regulators, startups, or the big tech firms scrambling to sell reassurance? Stakes are high.

Sources: politico.eu