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IE University research reveals most Europeans support making the spread of fake news illegal - and punishing those who spread it

IE University presents European Tech Insights report
More than a third of citizens believe an AI algorithm would be more productive at work than their boss.

Today IE University’s Center for the Governance of Change (CGC) launches the European Tech Insights Report 2022, which reveals every year public attitudes in Europe towards technology, social media, the future of work, and democracy.

Two years on from the COVID-19 pandemic and 7 months from Russian’s invasion of Ukraine, social media’s key role in spreading fake news and disinformation has led most Europeans (52%) wanting to make such dissemination illegal and sanctioned by law.

The current geopolitical climate has also led to heightened fears of cyber-attacks, with most Europeans fearing one. Nonetheless, the report also highlights that many citizens support the use of technology by their governments and believe technology is strengthening democracy.

  • Over two thirds of Europeans (67%) are worried about the possibility of a cyberattack on critical infrastructure in their country.
  • 64% of Europeans think that technology is strengthening democratic institutions.
  • Europeans strongly support e-governments, with almost 60% of citizens wanting to switch public services online, even if this means closing physical offices. This measure is also widely supported by those over 65 years old.

The pandemic may have also heightened our disillusionment with work, with a significant proportion of Europeans believing an AI algorithm would do a better job than their boss and supporting the right to disconnect after work hours.

  • More than a third of Europeans – and a majority of those under 35 years old – believe an AI algorithm would be more productive at work than their boss.
  • 57% of Europeans support the right to disconnect from work being made into legislation.
  • Although 60% of Europeans 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.

The report also reveals rising adoption of cryptocurrencies, with more than a third of Europeans preferring to use digital currency rather than cash, and with over 42% of citizens under 25 supporting making Bitcoin legal tender.

Carlos Luca de Tena, Executive Director of the IE Center for the Governance of Change, commented: “Compared to last year, we see increased technology trust and adoption by citizens, but there is a paradox in how they view it. There might be a greater trust in AI algorithms, yet many citizens are in favour of limiting automation by law despite not believing their jobs will be automated.”

“We see these mixed feelings mainly when it comes direct employment, but not when it comes to the digitalisation of private and public services, with e-governments enjoying large support across all age groups.”
Carlos Luca de Tena, Executive Director of the IE Center for the Governance of Change

Irene Blázquez Navarro, Director of the IE Center for the Governance of Change, said “There is a greater awareness of digital rights, citizens want to be protected from the information they consume and for it to be accurate and reliable. At the same time, in the workplace, it is not only about having codes of conduct to obey, but also about having digital rights such as the right to be disconnected after working hours.”

Notes to editors

For more information and to review the full results of the European Tech Survey 2022, please click here.

About IE University

IE University offers a technology-based learning ecosystem for leaders making a difference in the world through innovation, global vision, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a Humanities-based approach. IE’s faculty includes more than 500 professors who teach degree and master's programs, doctorates, and executive training to students from 140 countries.

About Center for the Governance of Change (CGC)

The Center for the Governance of Change (CGC) is an applied-research, educational institution based at IE University that studies the political, economic, and societal implications of the current technological revolution and advances solutions to overcome its unwanted effects.

Survey Methodology

The European Tech Insights 2022 survey was conducted in June 2022 by Netquest. 3,005 respondents were a representative for adults in the countries included, and by gender and age. Respondents are part of recurrent panels recruited by Netquest or affiliated companies into panels via social media, direct mailing or through referrals from other respondents. They receive small in-kind incentives for responding to each survey.

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