Global News Roundup: Tech Attitudes and Plastic Pollution

Here are the five biggest U.S. and international stories as of Thursday, June 25, 2026.

First, American attitudes toward technology companies have undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade. In July 2019, a national survey by Pew Research Center found that only 50% of Americans viewed technology companies positively. This was a stark decrease from 2015, when 71% of respondents reported favorable views. The drop of 21 percentage points in just four years indicated a substantial shift in public trust and perception. The decline was driven by mounting concerns about privacy, the role of technology in spreading misinformation, and controversies surrounding how much power these companies hold in both economic and political realms. Following a series of high-profile data breaches, government hearings, and growing debates over content moderation, the public increasingly questioned whether technology companies could be trusted to manage the digital infrastructure of daily life. The skepticism persisted and deepened in the years that followed, as headlines featured topics such as antitrust lawsuits, the handling of user data, and the influence of these corporations on democracy. The 2019 survey results served as a milestone, alerting both policymakers and the public to the fact that the era of uncritical enthusiasm for Silicon Valley was ending. The shift coincided with a broader global trend, where governments in Europe and Asia also began scrutinizing technology companies more closely, implementing GDPR regulations, and considering new antitrust frameworks. During this period, company executives were summoned for testimony before Congress and other government bodies, making the technology sector a frequent subject of legislative and regulatory discussion. The rapid drop in favorability ratings corresponded with a rise in calls for greater accountability measures, such as stricter privacy regulations and content oversight, and led to a wave of proposals for breaking up large technology companies or restricting their business practices. The erosion of trust was not limited to any single company or incident, but rather reflected a series of issues building over several years, culminating in a moment when half the country no longer viewed these firms as a positive influence on American society.

Next, the environmental impact of digital infrastructure has become a prominent issue in 2026, specifically around data centers. In March 2026, Pew Research Center published a survey revealing that 39% of Americans believe data centers have a negative impact on the environment. Only 4% of respondents viewed the effects of data centers as positive, showing a stark imbalance in opinion. Data centers, which are facilities that house vast numbers of servers required for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital services, consume enormous amounts of electricity and generate considerable heat, requiring advanced cooling systems that further increase energy use. Many data centers draw power from grids that still depend on fossil fuels, contributing to carbon emissions. The environmental footprint of a single large data center can exceed that of a small town, consuming millions of gallons of water annually for cooling and releasing heat into the surrounding ecosystem. The survey highlighted that public awareness of this impact was growing, but still incomplete. A quarter of Americans—25%—reported having heard nothing about data centers, indicating that even as their numbers multiply across suburban and rural landscapes, many people are not yet aware of their existence or the scale of their operations. The proliferation of data centers has been especially visible in states offering generous tax breaks or low-cost energy, such as Virginia, Texas, and Oregon. Local debates have erupted over water usage, noise pollution, and land development as major technology companies continue to build new facilities to support the expansion of cloud-based services and artificial intelligence. The public’s mounting concern has prompted some local governments to explore stricter permitting processes and environmental impact assessments before approving new data center projects. Despite these concerns, the economic benefits—such as promises of new jobs and increased tax revenue—continue to play a role in shaping community responses. However, only a minority view these facilities as net positive for their localities or the environment. The March 2026 findings marked a significant shift from earlier years, when digital infrastructure was largely viewed as a clean, invisible backbone of the modern economy. Now, the environmental trade-offs are front and center in debates about how to power the next era of technological growth.

Third, public opinion on artificial intelligence in the United States is marked by deep skepticism and anxiety about the future. In March 2026, a Washington Post article detailed that a majority of Americans remain unconvinced of AI’s promised benefits. Job displacement is the most commonly cited fear, as automation and intelligent systems expand into sectors such as retail, logistics, media, and even professional services. Many workers worry that their roles could be replaced or significantly altered by AI, leading to economic uncertainty and pressure on policymakers to address workforce transitions. The article cited the prevalence of AI-powered tools in customer service, content generation, and business operations as examples of how quickly the technology is spreading. Despite these concerns, adoption of AI services continues to rise, as businesses seek greater efficiency and consumers integrate AI assistants, recommendation engines, and generative tools into their daily lives. The contradiction is that people use AI-powered products even as they doubt the technology’s societal value, a phenomenon described as “skeptical adoption.” This ambivalence is further illustrated by the words of Sam Altman, who stated, “AI is not very popular in the U.S. right now.” Altman’s assessment captured the prevailing mood of distrust and uncertainty, despite relentless promotion and marketing by technology companies. Studies cited in 2026 have shown that, while AI is expected to improve productivity and enable new forms of creativity, few Americans believe that the benefits will be distributed equitably or that companies deploying AI will put the public’s interest ahead of profits. The spread of AI into government services, healthcare, and education has fueled additional debate about algorithmic bias, privacy, and accountability. Concerns about surveillance, discrimination, and the reliability of automated decision-making have all contributed to resistance against further AI integration. The persistent skepticism has proven difficult for companies to overcome, even as they invest heavily in public relations campaigns and educational outreach. The March 2026 reporting made clear that, at the heart of the issue, Americans are wrestling with a technology they can neither fully embrace nor avoid.

Fourth, there is an overwhelming and unusual level of bipartisan agreement among Americans on the need for AI regulation. A November 2025 report by Public Citizen found that 97% of Americans support safety and security regulations for artificial intelligence. This near-unanimity crosses political boundaries, with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all expressing the view that guardrails are necessary before AI becomes more deeply embedded in everyday life. The report described the phenomenon as a “rare bipartisan consensus,” with virtually all major demographic and ideological groups backing new rules to govern AI development and deployment. The demand for regulation comes amid rising public anxiety over job security, privacy, and the ethical use of AI—issues that cut across partisan lines. The calls for oversight have prompted lawmakers in both parties to propose legislation aimed at requiring transparency, accountability, and independent testing of AI systems before they are released at scale. The November 2025 findings showed that Americans want not just voluntary guidelines but enforceable, government-mandated standards to protect against the misuse of AI and mitigate risks to public safety and employment. The Public Citizen report noted that, while technology companies continue to promote AI’s potential, these efforts have not alleviated public fears or diminished the appetite for regulation. The polling cited in the report found that support for such measures was consistent regardless of age, education level, or geographic region, highlighting a foundational shift in the national conversation. The consensus on AI regulation stands in contrast to the more polarized debates on other technology-related issues, making it a focal point for potential legislative action in the coming years. The movement toward stronger public guardrails reflects not only the scale of public concern, but also a belief that unchecked innovation in AI could have consequences that are difficult to reverse.

Fifth, environmental activism and policy have seen a surge of public support, particularly regarding the plastics industry. In February 2023, a nationwide poll by Oceana revealed that 73% of U.S. voters support a halt on new plastic production facilities. The poll results came amid growing awareness of the dangers posed by single-use plastics to oceans, wildlife, and human health. The push to stop new facilities was fueled by images of marine life ensnared in plastic waste, reports of microplastics contaminating food and water, and scientific studies linking plastic pollution to ecosystem decline. The movement brought together environmental organizations, scientists, and grassroots activists, who advocated for bans on plastic bags, restrictions on packaging, and investments in alternative materials. The 73% support figure demonstrated that concern about plastic pollution cut across political, geographic, and demographic lines, echoing the kind of bipartisan unity seen in attitudes toward AI regulation. In response to the poll, lawmakers in several states introduced or expanded bans on certain types of single-use plastics and implemented measures to promote recycling and compostable alternatives. The plastics industry faced increased scrutiny from regulators and the public, as activists called attention to the links between plastic production, fossil fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Municipalities and states began tracking the proliferation of “forever chemicals” and microplastics in water supplies, prompting new standards for filtration and waste management. The surge in support for curbs on plastic production represented a significant shift from previous decades, when plastics were often celebrated for their convenience and versatility. This new wave of activism has influenced both national and international policy discussions, as countries around the world grapple with the challenge of managing plastic waste and transitioning to a more sustainable system of consumption.

Transitioning to a lesser-known detail that underscores the complex relationship between technology infrastructure and public awareness: despite the rapid growth of data centers across the United States, a significant portion of the population remains unaware of their basic existence. According to the March 2026 Pew Research Center survey, 25% of Americans reported having heard nothing about data centers at all. This knowledge gap persists even as the number of data centers has surged to meet the demands of cloud computing, streaming services, and AI-powered applications. These facilities, often situated on the outskirts of metropolitan areas or in rural communities, require large physical sites and substantial resources, yet operate largely out of the public eye. Local governments and utility providers negotiate deals with technology firms seeking to construct new centers, offering incentives such as tax abatements or discounted electricity rates. Residents sometimes only become aware of data center projects when they notice changes in local infrastructure—such as road expansions or increased energy consumption—or when environmental concerns are raised at public hearings. The lack of public awareness complicates efforts to build consensus around regulation or community standards for these facilities. It also limits the ability of citizens to engage in debates about land use, resource allocation, and the broader consequences of digital infrastructure growth. The disconnect between the prevalence of data centers and public understanding is striking, given the centrality of these facilities to the U.S. digital economy and the ongoing debates about their environmental impact.

Returning to the unique moment of near-universal agreement on AI regulation, the November 2025 Public Citizen report emphasized that support for new rules is not only broad but also deep, spanning diverse constituencies. The report highlighted that demand for stronger guardrails rose sharply following a series of well-publicized cases in which AI systems were shown to make biased or erroneous decisions affecting hiring, lending, law enforcement, and healthcare. These cases fueled fears that, without regulatory oversight, AI could reinforce or amplify existing social inequalities. Lawmakers from both major parties seized on the polling data to champion new bills aimed at requiring transparency in AI algorithms and mandating independent audits of AI systems before deployment. The report found that many Americans favor the creation of a dedicated federal agency to oversee artificial intelligence, mirroring past calls for regulatory bodies to address environmental or financial risks. The push for regulation was not limited to abstract principles: survey respondents cited specific concerns, such as the use of facial recognition in policing, AI-powered surveillance in schools, and the replacement of human workers in critical infrastructure roles. The near-consensus on regulation has created an environment in which technology companies face increasing pressure to submit to oversight, disclose how their systems work, and implement fail-safes to protect consumers and society at large.

In April 2026, Public Citizen reported that public distrust in artificial intelligence persisted, despite sustained efforts by technology companies to market AI as beneficial and safe. Companies launched advertising campaigns, published educational materials, and hosted public forums aimed at demystifying AI and emphasizing its potential to improve productivity, healthcare, and daily convenience. These efforts failed to close the gap between industry optimism and public skepticism. The report described how high-profile missteps—such as AI-generated misinformation, deepfake scams, and algorithmic discrimination—continued to shape negative perceptions. The inability of technology companies to win over a skeptical public has had tangible consequences, leading to calls for stricter rules, greater transparency, and limits on where and how AI can be deployed. The April 2026 findings demonstrated that, while Americans are not abandoning digital tools, they are increasingly demanding accountability, risk mitigation, and safeguards against abuse. The widening trust gap has influenced legislative priorities, with members of Congress citing public opinion polls to justify efforts to rein in technology firms and strengthen consumer protections. The enduring distrust has also affected international collaboration on AI governance, as U.S. negotiators contend with similar anxieties among European and Asian counterparts in debates over global standards for digital technologies.

Finally, an unusually high level of support for environmental regulation is reflected in the data on plastic production facilities, with 73% of U.S. voters in February 2023 supporting a halt on new plants. The poll captured the growing sense that both local and global ecosystems are under threat from the proliferation of single-use plastics. The broad support extended across age groups and political affiliations, making plastic pollution one of the few environmental issues to achieve consensus in recent years. The poll results energized advocacy groups like Oceana, which used the findings to lobby Congress and state legislatures for stronger restrictions and incentives to reduce plastic waste. The movement to halt new plastic facilities has been accompanied by efforts to phase out certain chemicals and additives linked to health risks, as well as to promote circular economy models that prioritize reusability and waste reduction. The 73% support figure is equivalent to more than 7 out of every 10 voters nationwide, a scale that rivals public backing for other major regulatory initiatives in U.S. history. The poll’s impact was felt not only in legislative chambers but also in corporate boardrooms, as companies faced growing pressure to disclose their plastic footprints and invest in alternatives. The campaign against new plastics facilities has influenced discussions at international forums, where the United States has joined other countries in negotiating new agreements to address plastic waste in oceans and rivers. The convergence of scientific evidence, visual imagery, and grassroots activism has transformed the fight against plastic pollution into a mainstream political issue, shaping the trajectory of environmental policy at home and abroad.