EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021 - How the Pandemic Altered our Relationship with Technology - IE
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EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021 Part I How the Pandemic Altered our Relationship with Technology
INTRODUCTION
The Covid-19 pandemic has sped up our migration from In this edition, we focus on how the pandemic has
the physical to the digital domain. With social distancing, altered our habits and perceptions with regards to
our jobs and social interactions have increasingly played healthcare, work, social networks and the urban space.
out online. This process, which was already in motion More than a year after the outbreak of Covid-19, Euro-
before the pandemic, has been turbo-charged as remote peans are still struggling to return to any form of
work has become the norm for millions of European pre-pandemic normality. While the long-lasting effects
professionals. At the same time, the digital domain has of the pandemic in our lives are yet to determined,
also been under-regulated, with governments taking a our report unveils public opinion shifts that reveal the
laissez-faire approach in terms of the rights and respon- profound impact of this crisis.
sibilities of the largest technology companies. This
seems to be coming to an end, as governments are in- The findings of the study suggest a sense of growing
creasingly signaling willingness to regulate this space public responsibility to address societal issues that have
to address privacy, competition or public debate issues. been exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic. At the
onset of the pandemic, European solidarity deteriorated
To tackle the great technological transformation of our with closed borders, a lack of coordination and even the
time, public and private actors need to understand what halting of critical supplies to European neighbors.
is legitimate in the eyes of the citizens and what sort Today, the majority of Europeans still favor deepening
of technological future they may be ready to embrace. European integration with the creation of a European PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ACTORS
Failing to do so could result in resistance to techno- Health Union to avoid such outcomes in the future. NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
logical change and even greater political polarization. Moreover, there is strong support among Europeans
IS LEGITIMATE IN THE EYES
Our annual survey, European Tech Insights, investi- (61%) for raising the salaries of essential workers, who
gates attitudes towards technological change with the have been ensuring the functioning of our societies OF THE CITIZENS AND WHAT
aim of understanding how technology is transforming throughout the pandemic. SORT OF TECHNOLOGICAL
our lives and how it should be governed. It seeks to shed
FUTURE THEY MAY BE READY
light on the hopes and concerns of our technological The pandemic has threatened many livelihoods and
future. amplified concerns regarding technological transfor-
TO EMBRACE.
mation and labor markets. Support for limiting
automation to prevent “technological unemployment”
2
INTRODUCTION
OUR RELATION WITH
TECHNOLOGY WILL CONTINUE
TO EVOLVE AND SO WILL has been increasing during the last year, and a majority year ago. Furthermore, a significant proportion of
of Europeans are now in favor of limiting automation citizens, especially young Europeans, support a ban on
THE WAYS WE DEVELOP AND by law, with only 34% against. This sentiment is strong- petrol and diesel cars. Lastly, Europeans want to be
REGULATE IT. er among those under 45 years old. Similarly, there is able to move out of cities. Most of them now live in
a generational divide between the younger “digital urban areas – increasingly, in high-density cities. The
natives” who have fewer privacy concerns and are more pandemic opened the door to telework, and today more
willing to share their personal data, and older Europeans than two-thirds of citizens support fiscal measures to
who show a lack of trust in emerging technologies. help people and businesses move to smaller cities
and rural areas.
Like technology adoption, the use of social networks
also increased during the pandemic. What is more, As vaccine rollout progresses and Europeans start
there was an explosion in digital disinformation, an seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, this years’
“infodemic” that persists today. There is an over- edition offers a glimpse into the impact of the pandemic
whelming belief in the overwhelming belief among on public opinion, from demands for enhanced Euro-
Europeans (59% vs. 19%) and Americans (52% vs. 22%) pean healthcare cooperation to increased awareness of
that social networks have increased political division. the downsides of technological development. Our
Nonetheless, Europeans are weary of governments and relation with technology will continue to evolve and so
believe social media companies should be the ones will the ways we develop it and regulate it. It is why
moderating content: only (27%) would prefer the gov- European Tech Insights endeavors to undertake the
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
ernment to do so. critical task of providing decision makers with insights
into how citizens perceive and adapt to the transfor-
The pandemic also had a large impact on Europeans’ mations of our time.
relationship with the city. Restrictions in mobility and
the large shift to remote working changed citizens’ Oscar Jonsson, Academic Director,
expectations of urban spaces. There is now strong IE Center for the Governance of Change
support among Europeans for greener, quieter cities: a
majority (43% vs. 41%) want to reduce the presence of Carlos Luca de Tena, Head of Operations,
cars in the center of cities, which was not the case a IE Center for the Governance of Change
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE TRANSFORMATION
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
HEALTHCARE, TECHNOLOGY THE CHANGING NATURE SOCIAL MEDIA AND
AND PRIVACY OF WORK THE INFODEMIC OF THE URBAN SPACE
p. 4 p. 8 p. 11 p. 14
3
1
HEALTHCARE,
TECHNOLOGY AND
PRIVACY
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
4
FI N D I N G 1 — EU RO PE A N H E A LTH U N I O N Q U E S TI O N :
Over a year after the onset of the pandemic, a large majority of Europeans (65%) support building a European The Covid-19 health crisis revealed a lack in coordi-
nation among European countries (e.g. the unilateral
Health Union to enhance cooperation in the field of public health. The strongest support is found in Spain (75%),
closure of borders) and solidarity seemed absent. Some
Italy (73%) and the Netherlands (70%), while only 12% of Europeans are against. US and Chinese citizens also believe experts have argued that the reason was that Europe
that Europe needs a stronger collaboration in this area – particularly, Chinese respondents overwhelmingly (92%) has very limited competencies in public health. Do you
think Europe should build a European Health Union
think Europe would benefit from such initiative.
to enhance cooperation in this field?
% in favor of building a European Health Union
12% 65 % 38% 52 %
No Yes SPAIN 75% I don’t know Yes
ITALY 73%
CH
USIN
AA
POLAND 70%
NETHERLANDS 70%
10%
ESTONIA 66% No
EU RO PE A N
AV E R AG E GERMANY 63%
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
4% I don’t know 92 %
SWEDEN 61% Yes
4% No
FRANCE 59%
A
UK 52% NA
CH IIN
CH
EUROPEAN AVERAGE 65%
23%
I don’t know 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
5
FI N D I N G 2 — PE RSO N A L H E A LTH DATA Q U E S TI O N :
Europeans are still divided over letting governments share their health records with private companies (45% Some governments are sharing their citizens’ health
records with companies like Google in order to support
for, 47% against), even if this helps developing new treatments. Although during the first wave of the pandemic we saw
the development of mechanisms for early detection of
a momentary decrease in privacy concerns – especially in the hardest-hit countries (61% of Italians and 55% of Spaniards diseases and new treatments. How do you feel about
this?
were in favor then) – today numbers in Europe have gone back to pre-pandemic levels. A similar evolution is observed
in the US, where only 36% of citizens are willing share their health records. By contrast, in China privacy concerns have
been steadily plummeting to the point that today only 17% of Chinese are against sharing their records.
39% 37% 29% 27% 37% 38% 46% 52% I think it is ok, as long as my personal data is not
GERMANY
EU RO PE A N
ESTONIA
misused (for instance, for commercial purposes).
FRANCE
ITALY
AV E R AG E 5% 10% 6% 9% 3% 10% 11% 12%
49% 53% 53% 64% 51% 52% 38% 36% I think it is ok, even if there is a possibility of my
47% personal data being misused, the potential returns
45% 9% 12% 9% 5% are higher than the risks.
5%
I think it is wrong, because my personal data is mine
and no institution should be entitled to use it without
NETHERLANDS
40% 40% 36% 48% 36% 39% 41% 31% my previous consent.
POLAND
SWEDEN
SPAIN
3% 12% 0% 8% 5% 6% 12%
I don´t know.
51% 52% 47% 56% 45% 44% 57%
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
6% 5% 11% 9%
Compared with 2020
43% 37% 34% 25% 74% 37%
CHINA
6% 9% USA 2% 7% 8% 12%
UK
40% 54% 44% 68% 17% 51%
11% 20% 1%
6
FI N D I N G 3 — H E A LTH W E A R A B LE S Q U E S TI O N :
A majority (46%) of young Europeans under the age of 25 are willing to let their insurers collect personal Health wearables, such as fitness wristbands, are
designed to collect personal health and exercise data.
health and exercise data through the use of health wearables. Younger cohorts show less privacy concerns and
Would you be willing to let your insurer record your
are more willing to share health data, while a majority of those over 35 are against. In aggregate, a third of Europeans physical activity and calorie intake with a wearable in
(34%) are willing to let their insurers collect personal health and exercise data with the strongest support in Italy exchange for discounts for healthy behaviour?
(52%), Spain (41%) the Netherlands and Poland (37%). This view is also dominant in China, where 60% of respondents
are willing to share their personal data.
49% 34 %
GERMANY
30% 25% 25%
ESTONIA
Yes
FRANCE
No Yes
54% 56% 57%
No
16% 19% 18%
I don’t know
EUROPE
EU RO PE AA
NN
AVEER
AV R AG
AGEE
POLAND
52% 37% 41%
SPAIN
ITALY
33% 45% 46%
15% 18% 13%
17 %
I don’t know
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
NETHERLANDS
SWEDEN
28% 37% 32%
AG E
UK
55% 45% 48%
1 8 –24 46% 15% 39%
17% 18% 20%
2 5 –3 4 39% 20% 41%
35–44 38% 16% 46%
45–54 29% 17% 54% 35% 60%
CHINA
USA
55–64 25% 18% 57% 40% 37%
>64 31% 15% 54% 25% 3%
7
2
THE CHANGING
NATURE OF WORK
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
8
FI N D I N G 4 — AUTO M ATI O N A N D J O B S Q U E S TI O N :
Europeans want to limit automation by law to safeguard jobs. The number of Europeans who support measures Should European governments limit automation by
law in order to save jobs and prevent technological
to limit automation has grown during the last year and now represents a majority (47% in 2021 vs 44% in 2020).
unemployment?
In fact, all European countries surveyed are in favor of such limits except Germany and Estonia. Support has parti-
cularly grown in Spain (+19 points), Poland (+14 points), and Italy (+10 points). Moreover, there is an intergenerational
gap: support for limits is strongest among those under 44, whilst those over 45 are more skeptical to the ban.
34% 47%
GERMANY
27% 38% 63% 59% 35% 43% Yes
ESTONIA
No Yes
FRANCE
55% 50% 24% 24% 43% 37%
No
18% 12% 13% 17% 22% 20%
I don’t know
EU RO PE A N
AV E R AG E Compared with 2020
19 %
POLAND
54% 44% 54% 40% 61% 42%
SPAIN
ITALY
I don’t know
32% 38% 30% 43% 26% 37%
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
14% 18% 16% 17% 13% 21%
AG E
1 8 –24 53% 20% 27%
2 5 –3 4 48% 32% 20%
35–44 53% 20% 27%
45–54 45% 21% 34% NETHERLANDS
SWEDEN
42% 46% 50% 44% 42%
45% 20% 35%
UK
55–64 32% 32% 35% 28% 29%
>64 40% 15% 45% 26% 22% 15% 28% 29%
9FI N D I N G 5 — E S S E NTI A L WO RK E RS Q U E S TI O N :
A majority of Europeans (61%) are willing to pay more taxes in exchange of raising the salaries of A number of low-paid, often low-skilled jobs have been
revealed as essential during the pandemic: custodial
essential workers. Support is identical among all cohorts. The only country that is against the measure is
staff in hospitals, child-care workers, grocery clerks,
France, with 54% of its citizens against. Highest support is found in Sweden (70%), UK (70%) and Spain (67%). delivery people, etc. Would you be willing to pay more
It is worth noting that Chinese respondents overwhelmingly support the measure: 84% are willing to pay taxes in order to raise their salaries?
more taxes to help essential workers.
13% 41 %
Strongly against. Somewhat in favor. SWEDEN 28% 42% 18% 12% Strongly in favor.
23% 47% 19% 11% Somewhat in favor.
UK
Strongly against.
S PA I N 28% 39% 19% 14%
Somewhat against.
I TA LY 21% 40% 29% 10%
GERMANY 17% 42% 27% 14%
EU RO PE A N NETHERL ANDS 17% 43% 25% 15%
AV E R AG E
15% 43% 34% 8%
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
E S TO N I A
POL AND 16% 38% 29% 17%
FR ANCE 13% 33% 33% 21%
CHINA 19% 65% 14% 2%
26% 20%
Somewhat against. Strongly in favor. USA 16% 45% 21% 18%
103
SOCIAL MEDIA AND
THE INFODEMIC
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
11FI N D I N G 6 — SO CI A L M E D I A A N D P O L A RIZ ATI O N Q U E S TI O N :
There is a wide consensus among Europeans that social networks have had a negative impact and In your opinion, have social networks like Facebook and
Twitter made politics more transparent and account-
increased political polarization. A large majority (56%) of European respondents believe social networks have
able, or have they increased political division?
increased political division and only 19% think they have made politics more transparent and accountable.
This view is also dominant in the United States, where 52% of respondents believe social media platforms have
had a negative impact on political division.
19 % 56%
GERMANY
They have made politics 49% 52% 59% They have increased political division.
ESTONIA
They have increased
FRANCE
more transparent and political division.
accountable. 24% 21% 14%
They have made politics more transparent and accountable.
27% 27% 27%
I don’t know.
56% 61% 59%
POLAND
SPAIN
ITALY
17% 20% 14%
EU RO PE A N
27% 19% 27% 22 % 52%
AV E R AG E
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
They have made politics They have increased
more transparent political division.
and accountable.
NETHERLANDS
46% 62% 56%
SWEDEN
UK
22% 17% 20% US A
32% 21% 24%
26 % 26 %
I don’t know. I don’t know.
12FI N D I N G 7 — SO CI A L M E D I A M O D E R ATI O N Q U E S TI O N :
Despite the controversy surrounding social media platforms and content moderation, Europeans believe During these last months, we have seen a surge in fake
news on social media exploiting uncertainty around
that fake news on social networks should be controlled by the platforms and not by governments.
the coronavirus pandemic. Who do you think should
55% of respondents think social networks like Facebook and Twitter should be the ones moderating content, be in charge of controlling the spread of fake news on
while only 27% think governments should be in charge. Sweden is the only European country where a majority social media?
wants governments to control the spread of disinformation (39% vs 34%). There is a stronger support among
European males than females for governmental control of fake news (10 point difference).
18% 55 %
I don’t know Social networks like
Facebook and Twitter E S TO N I A 65% 18% 17% Social networks like Facebook and Twitter
I TA LY 65% 13% 22% Governments
S PA I N 63% 16% 22% I don’t know
EUROPE
EU RO PE AA
NN
AVEER
AV R AG
AGEE POL AND 60% 15% 25%
GERMANY 54% 18% 28%
27%
UK 53% 20% 28%
Governments
52% 21% 27%
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
FR ANCE
EU RO PE A N AV E R AG E BY S E X NETHERL ANDS 50% 17% 33%
FEMALE 57%
MALE 53% SWEDEN 34% 26% 39%
FEMALE 22%
MALE 32%
CHINA 51% 4% 46%
57%F E M A L E 21%
MALE 15% USA 39% 36% 25%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
134
THE TRANSFORMATION
OF THE URBAN SPACE
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
14FI N D I N G 8 — C A R US E I N TH E CIT Y Q U E S TI O N :
Are you in favor of reducing the number of cars in the
The pandemic has changed citizens’ priorities and their relationship with the city. Last year, a majority of
streets through increased taxes, limits or access to city
Europeans (49%) were against reducing the presence of cars in the streets. However, a year after the onset centres (pedestrianised streets, congestion charges,
of the pandemic, opposition to such measures has shrunk to 42% and now Europeans that want to reduce etc.)?
the presence of cars in European streets through taxes or other restrictions represent a majority.
The two countries with the strongest support for limiting cars are Spain (55% for vs. 28% against)
and France (51% for vs. 32% against).
EU RO PE A N AV E R AG E 2 021 S PA I N 55% 17% 28% Yes
No
FR ANCE 51% 17% 32%
49% I don’t know
NETHERL ANDS 45% 15% 40% Compared with 2020
43%
42%
38% I TA LY 43% 11% 46%
SWEDEN 41% 22% 37%
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
UK 41% 19% 40%
16% E S TO N I A 39% 15% 46%
13%
GERMANY 34% 16% 50%
POL AND 33% 15% 52%
15FI N D I N G 9 — CO U NTE RU RB A N IZ ATI O N Q U E S TI O N :
Over the last decades, more and more people and
The overwhelming majority of Europeans (67%) support fiscal measures to help people and
businesses have been moving to big cities in Europe.
businesses move to smaller cities and rural areas. Whilst all European countries agree with Do you support fiscal measures to help people and
such measures, the view is particularly popular in Spain (83%) and Estonia (70%). Older cohorts businesses move to smaller cities and rural areas?
are more likely than younger ones to support the measure. US citizens hold a similar opinion,
with only 13% of respondents opposing the measure.
% in favor
20% 67% 33% 54%
I don’t know Yes SPAIN 83% I don’t know Yes
ESTONIA 70%
ITALY 68%
US A
FRANCE 68%
13%
POLAND 67%
No
EU RO PE A N
AV E R AG E SWEDEN 66%
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
GERMANY 65%
UK 58%
NETHERLANDS 55%
EUROPEAN AVERAGE 67%
13%
No 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
16FI N D I N G 1 0 — B A N O N PE TRO L A N D D I E S E L C A RS Q U E S TI O N :
Norway and the Netherlands are discussing a ban on
A significant proportion of Europeans, especially among younger cohorts, support a ban on petrol and
non-electric vehicles by 2025. Do you think governments
diesel cars. Italy is the country with the strongest support for such measure, with a majority of its citizens should ban the manufacturing and selling of petrol and
(43%) in favor of the ban. A majority of young Swedes (46%) and Spaniards (45%) between the ages of 25 and diesel cars from 2025?
34 years also support the ban, whilst in the United Kingdom, all age groups under 45 years old think
governments should follow the example and ban the manufacturing and selling of petrol and diesel cars.
In China, support is even higher, with half of the population in favor of such ban.
Support for banning petrol and diesel cars
60
ITALY
ITALY
EU RO PE
SWEDEN
NETHERLANDS
UK
SPAIN
53%
50
52%
ITALY
NETHERLANDS
NETHERLANDS
49%
26 % 54% 20%
UK
46%
Yes No I don’t know
SPAIN
UK
45%
GERMANY
44%
SWEDEN
43%
FRANCE
40
POLAND
40%
ESTONIA
38%
37%
POLAND
POLAND
FRANCE
34%
33%
33%
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
30
32%
32%
30%
GERMANY
SWEDEN
FRANCE
GERMANY
28%
ESTONIA
SPAIN
ESTONIA
25%
25%
25%
20
CH I N A
19%
19%
19%
18%
17%
17%
15%
44 % 45% 11% 10
Yes No I don’t know
0
18 – 24 years 25 – 34 years 35 – 44 years
17SURVEY ESTONIA
METHODOLOGY FRANCE
GERMANY
ITALY
European Tech Insights 2021 was fielded in January 2021.
The data was received in February and analyzed by the
NETHERLANDS
IE Center for the Governance of Change in February and POLAND
March 2021. We surveyed 2,769 adults from 11 countries
(Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, SPAIN
Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, China and the United
States). Samples were representative in terms of age and SWEDEN
UK
sex.
Respondents were part of recurrent panels recruited by
Netquest or affiliated companies into panels via social
CHINA
media, direct mailing or through referrals from other
respondents. They receive small in-kind incentives for
USA
responding to each survey.
202 1
INS I GHT S2021
2,769
TE CH INSIGHTS
RESPONDENTS
ROP E AN TECH
EUROPEAN
EU
18AUTHORS
Oscar Jonsson, Carlos Luca de Tena,
Academic Director Head of Operations
Oscar Jonsson is the Academic Director for the Center Carlos Luca de Tena is a public policy professional who
for the Governance of Change. He holds a PhD from has advised international organisations and top multi-
the Department of War Studies at King’s College national companies in public affairs, mostly in the field
London. He has been Director of the Stockholm Free of digital economy. He is the Head of Operations of
World Forum, a visiting researcher at UC Berkeley and the Center for the Governance of Change. Carlos has
a subject-matter expert at the Swedish Armed Forces worked as a Consultant at Llorente & Cuenca and
Headquarters. Oscar has advised governments, armed APCO Worldwide and was in charge of European Affairs
forces’ leadership and financial institutions on strategic at the French Association of Town Mayors.
affairs and geopolitical risk, and featured in inter-
national print and broadcast media. Carlos holds a master’s degree in European Affairs
from Sciences Po Paris and the University of Bath and
Oscar’s research focuses on the impact of emerging studied as an undergraduate at Sciences Po Paris,
2021
INSIGHTS 2021
technologies on modern statecraft and conflict, and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the London
TECH INSIGHTS
in particular Russian modern warfare. He is the author School of Economics.
of The Russian Understanding of War (Georgetown
University Press) which is on the Commander of US
EUROPEAN TECH
Special Forces’ reading list for 2020 and finalist for
EUROPEAN
the Association of American Publisher’s award for
scholarly and professional excellence in social sciences
2020.
19ABOUT
This study was conducted by the IE Center for the Governance Moreover, the CGC also runs a number of executive programs
of Change (CGC), an applied-research, educational institution on emerging tech for public institutions and companies inter-
THE CGC
that studies the political, economic, and societal implications of ested in expanding their understanding of disruptive trends, and
the current technological revolution and advances solutions to a series of outreach activities aimed at improving the general
overcome its unwanted effects. public’s awareness and agency over the coming changes. All this
EUROPEAN TECH INSIGHTS 2021
for one purpose:
The CGC does so by producing pioneering, impact-oriented
research that cuts across disciplines and methodologies to unveil
TO HELP BUILD A MORE
the complexity of emerging technologies such as artificial intel-
ligence, big data, blockchain, and robotics, and explores their PROSPEROUS AND SUSTAINABLE
potential threats and contributions to society. SOCIETY FOR ALL.
20WWW.IE.EDU/CGC
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