Survey: Most Americans oppose regs for Google, Bing

Most Americans oppose new regulations for search engines, which would prevent search companies from hiding competitors' sites in their listings, according to a survey released Sunday. 

The results could be heartening to Google, which has ardently opposed government intervention in how it ranks Web content. A Google spokesman circulated the survey on Sunday.

The Rasmussen Reports survey found that 77 percent of U.S. adults say there is no need for search regulations. Eleven percent of respondents said such regulation is necessary, while 12 percent are not sure. 

Search regulations, for instance, could force Google to continue linking to mapping services other than its own maps applications when users search for directions. 

The survey found that government workers are about three times as likely to see a need for a regulation compared to those in the private sector.

The company's position is that this question is an editorial decision that should stay outside the hands of regulators. Google has stated that it does not hide competitors' websites. 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chose not to regulate search when it made net neutrality rules. Many argued such rules fell outside the purview of the net neutrality issue. 

Net neutrality regulations address how phone and cable companies — and not search engines — treat Internet traffic. 

Read the survey here.