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02.07.25

Large majority of French, German and Spanish public back tough EU stance on Big Tech, despite risk to Trump relations

Around half also believe Big Tech companies are more powerful than the EU

Brussels, Belgium (3rd July 2025) - According to a new survey conducted by YouGov,approximately two thirds of people in France, Germany and Spain believe that Europe should enforce laws on Big Tech companies, even if this damages relations with Trump. Only 13-14% reported the opposite [1].

Additionally, roughly half surveyed in the three countries believe that Big Tech companies are more powerful than the EU, compared with only 9% in France, 12% in Germany, and 15% in Spain who believe Big Tech companies are less powerful [2].

Commissioned by People vs Big Tech and WeMove Europe, the results come as EU-US political tensions run high ahead of Trump’s ‘tariff day’ deadline on July 9th, with European tech laws in the crosshairs.

A leaked draft agreement on reciprocal trade suggests that the European Commission is considering exempting US Big Tech companies from its landmark digital competition rulebook - the Digital Markets Act (DMA) - to appease President Trump and avoid tariffs[1]. Brussels leaders previously denied DMA enforcement was up for grabs, but recently failed to repeat those denials.

The Commission is also expected to imminently announce the results of its long-awaited antitrust investigation into Google’s advertising monopoly. The YouGov survey showed public support in the three countries for the EU to impose structural remedies, with roughly twice as many respondents backing the EU to break up Big Tech companies, as those who believe that the EU should not [3].

The move for a structural separation of Google by the Commission has been supported by 18 former European Heads of State, Nobel prize winning economist Daron Acemoglu, as well as over 115,000 European citizens in a recent petition by civil society groups.

Additional survey findings

  • European enforcement of laws addressing the influence and power of Big Tech companies is too relaxed according to 47% of people surveyed in Germany, 42% in France, and 38% in Spain. This compares to only 6% in Germany, 5% in France, and 7% in Spain reporting that it is too rigorous [4].
  • Five times more people view Big Tech CEO relations with Donald Trump negatively than positively, across France (10% positive vs 56% negative), Germany (7% positive vs 57% negative), and Spain (10% positive vs 60% negative[5].

  • Across the three countries, more people believe that Big Tech companies have a negative impact on European democracy, than a positive impact [6].
    • In France, almost three times as many people believe Big Tech has a negative impact on European democracy (39%), compared to those that report the opposite (15%).
    • In Germany, 42% believe Big Tech has a negative impact on European democracy, almost five times as many as report it has a positive impact (9%).
    • In Spain, more than twice as many people (41%) say that Big Tech has a negative impact on European democracy than report a positive impact (18%).

  • EU leaders have backing from supporters of their own political parties to enforce laws on Big Tech companies. In Spain, 79% of people supporting PSOE, the party of EU Competition chief Teresa Ribera, back the EU to enforce laws on Big Tech. Meanwhile, in Germany 74% of CDU/CSU supporters, the party of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, back the EU to enforce laws on Big Tech [7].

Reactions:

Rasha Abdul Rahim, Interim Executive Director of People Vs Big Tech said : “Across Europe, people see Big Tech for what it is: a threat to rights, democracy and accountability. This polling shows that people in France, Germany and Spain expect the Commission to hold the line. These platforms have built empires by distorting debate, dodging scrutiny, and weakening public institutions. If the EU folds on enforcement, it sends a clear message: unelected tech oligarchs and corporate lobbies outrank the democratic will of its citizens.”

Giulio Carini, Senior Campaigner at WeMove Europe said: "People across Europe are calling for bold action to hold Big Tech to account. Our poll makes it clear there is strong support in Germany, France, and Spain for breaking up Google’s AdTech monopoly. It’s time for the Commission to act. A structural break-up would prove that EU laws have teeth, and that no corporation, no matter how powerful, is above the rules. The tools are there. Now the Commission must listen to Europeans and lead."

Max Bank, Researcher and Campaigner at LobbyControl said: "Europeans want action. A strong majority want the EU to get tough on Big Tech. Even Von der Leyen’s own political base, CDU/CSU voters, are unequivocally telling her to stay strong on EU tech rules despite Trump’s intimidation tactics. It’s time for the EU to break up Google, defend its democracy and not give in to pressure from across the Atlantic."

To arrange interviews with spokespeople, please contact [email protected]

[END]

Notes

The surveys were conducted by YouGov between June 5 and June 16, 2025 in Spain, Germany, and France.

The survey included 2070 respondents in France, 2323 in Germany, and 2077 in Spain, resulting in theoretical margins of error of plus or minus 2.2%, 2.0%, and 2.2%, respectively.

Please find survey results here.

Appendix: Survey questions

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

In France, 56% of the public report it is a bad thing compared to 10% reporting the relationships are a good thing. In Germany, 7% report it is a good thing compared with 57% reporting it is a bad thing. In Spain, 10% report it is a good thing compared with 60% reporting it is a bad thing.

[6]

[7]

[1] In February, Trump signed a memorandum stating "This administration will consider responsive actions like tariffs to combat the digital service taxes (DSTs), fines, practices, and policies that foreign governments levy on American companies”.

PDF here

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