3-in-4 Voters In Both The U.S. And Europe Believe Western Countries Must Work Together to Defend Shared Values, Preserve Their Economies and National Security, And Protect Against Technological Threats Posed By China And Russia
Washington, DC – A new survey released today by the American Edge Project (AEP) reveals that U.S. and European voters remain strongly aligned on common values and share mutual concern about the growing technological threats posed by China and Russia.
The United States and Europe have a long history of cooperating on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including technology. However, the European Union has applied misguided regulatory measures like the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which threatens to stifle innovation and jeopardize the West’s collective security. The DMA’s new regulations are not only overreaching, but they are also out-of-step with where voters on both sides of the Atlantic stand. U.S. and EU voters agree that we must unite against increased technology threats from China and Russia and believe that enabling, not stifling, technological innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) is critical to their economies and national security.
“For the fourth consecutive year, our survey shows that voters across Western countries are united in their concerns over the technological threats posed by China and Russia,” said Doug Kelly, CEO of AEP. “These threats challenge our shared values, economic future, and national security. Innovation is our strongest defense, and the U.S. and Europe must work together to strengthen our technological leadership and protect against foreign adversaries.”
The poll surveyed 1,001 registered voters in the U.S., 1,000 registered voters in the U.K., 1,001 registered voters in France, 1,004 registered voters in Germany, and 502 voters in Belgium (with Brussels considered the de facto capital of the European Union) between August 27 and September 16, 2024. The survey is a continuation of research by the American Edge Project that began in 2021 and continued in 2022 and 2023, with similar polls surveying comparable audiences.
To read the full research and analysis from this study, see the memo here and survey presentation here.
Key findings include:
- U.S. and European voters share common values and view China and Russia warily. On both sides of the Atlantic, there continues to be agreement that “Europe and the U.S. should work together to defend our shared values” (78% in U.S., 73% in Europe). Both sets of voters believe the other allows for free speech no matter the opinion (72% in U.S., 72% in Europe) and “brings people together” (72% in U.S., 62% in Europe).
- These shared values stand in stark contrast to how American and European voters perceive the values exhibited by China and Russia. By a nearly six-to-one ratio, Americans believe Europe shares its values more than either China or Russia does. Similarly, U.K. voters are nearly six times more likely to say the U.S. shares their values compared to China and Russia. French, German, and Belgian voters are almost three times as likely.
- Western voters agree that open-source AI would strengthen their country’s core values and tech innovations, underscoring the need for cooperation across the Western alliance to ensure that the West remains the lead innovator in the diversity of AI models, including open-source. On both sides of the Atlantic, 2-in-3 voters agree that the adoption and continued use of open-source AI would strengthen their country’s core values – like free speech, an open internet, and an open society – and keep them at the forefront of technology and freedom.
- Voters are deeply concerned about the threats posed by China and Russia. An overwhelming majority of voters in the U.S. and Europe agree that China and Russia are a threat to economic wellbeing and national security. Further, about 9-in-10 are alarmed by the prospect of China and Russia conducting cyberattacks on their country’s critical infrastructure, hacking government entities, and launching political influence campaigns.
- Western voters agree that technological breakthroughs, such as artificial intelligence, are essential and want to ensure their domestic innovations can compete on a global level. 3-in-4 voters on both sides of the Atlantic agree that technological innovations are critical to both their economies and their national security. Western voters also want to ensure that technologies such as artificial intelligence embody Western values and can compete with the technology of foreign competitors.
- Most U.S. and European voters want greater technological cooperation with each other to guard against China and Russia’s growing influence. Voters surveyed across the Western alliance continue to agree that the U.S. and Europe must cooperate to protect and strengthen their technological edge against foreign threats. And similar to where voters were in 2023, once again, almost 8-in-10 voters say Western countries should work together against common threats (79% in U.S., 74% in Europe), and against common adversaries (79% in U.S., 73% in Europe).
The bottom line: For the fourth straight year, Western voters remain worried about threats posed by China and Russia. They believe the U.S. and Europe share a common set of values – values counter to those of China and Russia – and that strong alliances are necessary to secure their economic and national security.
BACKGROUND:
The American Edge Project is a coalition of domestic organizations representing a cross-section of U.S. innovators who are dedicated to telling the story about technology’s positive influence on America’s economy and the vital role innovation plays in our society. Former New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, former U.S. Representative Chris Carney, and former Federal Election Commission Chairman Bradley A. Smith are directors of the American Edge Project. AEP’s National Security Advisory Board is comprised of Former White House Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend; retired four-star General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., United States Marine Corps (USMC), who served as former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and former Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Michael J. Morell. Former U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) serve as Co-Chairs of the Project’s Economic Advisory Board. Former U.S. Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) and Former U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) serve as Co-Chairs of the Project’s Open & Accessible Internet Advisory Board.
Visit AmericanEdgeProject.org for more information.
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