ISTANBUL

Public trust in major technology companies, Google, TikTok, and Meta, remains low in Switzerland, with a majority of people viewing them as profit-driven, according to a recent survey.

The study released Tuesday by research institute gfs.bern showed that 90% of respondents believe big tech companies are primarily motivated by profit, while 94% support increased protections for children and young people on social media platforms.

Concerns also extend to political influence and dependency. Around 84% of respondents fear excessive political influence from the countries where these companies are based, while 82% say Switzerland risks becoming overly dependent on foreign tech firms, particularly from the US and China.

Overall perceptions remain mixed, with 40% of respondents expressing a neutral view of big tech companies, while 38% view them negatively and only 21% hold a positive opinion.

The survey also highlighted broader concerns over digitalization.

While 58% of respondents consider digitalization positive overall, only 48% believe it benefits society as a whole, and 46% say its impact on democratic processes is somewhat or very negative.

A majority of respondents support a stronger role for the state in regulating digital technologies.

Some 88% said the government should ensure that decisions made by artificial intelligence are transparent, while 86% believe human oversight should be required in critical cases.

At the same time, trust in public institutions remains relatively high, with 75% of respondents expressing confidence in Swiss authorities.