Signal Over a third of citizens in 30 countries doubt their governments can regulate new technologies

Summary

The OECD Regulatory Policy Outlook 2025, cited in the essay, found that more than one third of citizens across 30 countries fear their government will fail to regulate new technologies properly. The author interprets this decline in trust as a symptom of policy lag behind a fast-changing environment rather than simple concern about regulatory gaps. Traditional regulatory domains such as safety and the environment are struggling to anticipate or manage the complex risks and social ripple effects of new technologies and services. Yet rules that are too rigid or too pre-emptive can deter corporate investment and activity. The author therefore sees 2026 as a moment when the balance between technology and regulation will shape national competitiveness.