Technology
Bipartisan pushback grows against technology companies across states
Bipartisan governors are curbing data centers and surveillance tech as public confidence drops, The Hill reports.
The short version
- A July Gallup poll showed public confidence in large technology companies fell to a record low of 20 percent in 2026.[The Hill]
- Governors Greg Abbott and Josh Shapiro launched initiatives this summer to increase scrutiny on data center approvals.[The Hill]
- State leaders including Abbott, Shapiro, Ron DeSantis, Dan McKee, and Spencer Cox restricted Flock surveillance technology or its funding.[The Hill]
- Political scientist Valerie Hudson described this cross-party resistance to Big Tech as an example of transformative repolarization.[The Hill]
Key facts
- Gallup polling from July showed public confidence in major technology firms declined to 20 percent in 2026, dropping from 32 percent in 2020.[The Hill]
- Governors Greg Abbott and Josh Shapiro implemented new measures this summer to evaluate and approve data center developments more stringently.[The Hill]
- Governors Abbott, Shapiro, Dan McKee, Ron DeSantis, and Spencer Cox mandated restrictions targeting Flock surveillance tools or their funding.[The Hill]
- Political scientist Valerie Hudson characterized the cross-party consensus on these issues as transformative repolarization.[The Hill]
What remains uncertain
- It remains to be seen how broadly state-level restrictions will affect data center construction and surveillance camera adoption nationwide.[The Hill]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.