The technology industry believes it is a force for good -- one that connects the world and helps information flow freely. But the industry is being watched following reports that people in Russia used technology services to target and influence American public opinion. A big tech conference took place last week in San Francisco. The city is just a short drive from California’s Silicon Valley, the home of several major high-tech companies. Many startup businesses sent one or more representatives to the conference, which was called TechCrunch Disrupt. The startups hoped to interest investors and consumers in their products. They did not seem worried about investigations into Silicon Valley companies like Facebook and the way Russia used social media to influence the U.S. elections last year. Still, many high-tech entrepreneurs wonder what they can control and what they cannot in the products they are creating.