Data centre protests held across US as backlash grows

Protests against the rapid expansion of data centres were held in at least 125 places across the United States on Saturday, in what organisers described as the first coordinated national pushback against the surge in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The demonstrations were organised by a grassroots group called HumansFirst, which says the buildout of data centres has moved too quickly and without enough public scrutiny. The campaign has tapped into concern over issues ranging from electricity costs and water use to pollution and the effect large projects may have on local communities.

According to the feed report, the backlash has been building over the past year as towns and counties found themselves facing major developments that were sometimes approved with limited transparency. In some cases, local officials signed nondisclosure agreements with developers, a practice that has deepened frustration among residents who say they were left out of the process.

The protests also reflect a rare point of agreement across party lines. The feed cited a June Reuters/Ipsos poll showing that only about one-third of Americans approved of the current pace of data-centre construction, while just 14pc said they would support a data centre in their own community for artificial intelligence projects backed by firms such as Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and xAI.

HumansFirst was co-founded by Amy Kremer, who previously helped lead the modern-day Tea Party movement. She has compared the growing resistance to data centres with that earlier right-wing populist campaign, while also arguing that the issue is nonpartisan. Other organisers, according to the report, want more transparency in planning, protections for natural resources and public health, and guarantees that communities will receive promised benefits such as well-paid union jobs.

The feed said the issue is emerging as a political concern in both red and blue states. Texas, a major data-centre hub, was on track to see the highest number of protests with 16 locations. Georgia had 11, while California, Florida and Pennsylvania each had seven.

Among those involved was Eva Cardona, a first-time activist helping organise a protest in Texas. In California’s Imperial County, Ivan DelSol backed a demonstration against a proposed project that could use 260 million gallons of water a year from the Colorado River. Water use has become one of the most sensitive points in the debate, especially in regions already under strain.

The industry, however, has argued that data centres are committed to acting as responsible neighbours. The Data Centre Coalition, which represents the sector, did not immediately respond to the protests, the feed report said.

This article is based on a monitored public feed. Source attribution: Dawn Tech. Source: Dawn Tech - https://www.dawn.com/news/2016593/data-centre-protests-held-across-us-as-backlash-grows