Marketplace All-in-One Trust in government data practices is rapidly deteriorating
Apr 9, 2026
Elizabeth Laird, director of equity and civic technology at the Center for Democracy & Technology, studies government data practices and digital equity. She discusses a new survey showing widespread worry about federal data collection. Concerns cut across demographics. Many feel powerless and may avoid benefits, risking chilling effects on health, housing, and services.
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Widespread Concern About Government Data Collection
- Three in four Americans are concerned about the federal government’s personal data holdings.
- Concern is consistent across political affiliation, race, gender, and geography, indicating broad, cross-cutting mistrust.
Helplessness Fuels Potential Backlash
- Many Americans feel helpless that there’s nothing they can do about government-held data.
- That sense of powerlessness, combined with high concern, creates the ingredients for a potential public backlash.
Mistrust Can Deter People From Claiming Benefits
- Nearly half of respondents said uncertainty about data use would stop them from signing up for benefits.
- Elizabeth Laird links this chilling effect to real harms: lower education, worse health outcomes, and more homelessness.