Opponents of the rapid expansion of data centres are planning protests at more than 125 locations across the United States on Saturday, marking the first coordinated national campaign against the growing infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence.
The demonstrations have been organised by HumansFirst, a grassroots group co-founded by a former leader of the modern-day Tea Party movement. The organisation has likened the growing backlash against data centres to the populist movement that emerged in 2009 in opposition to what supporters viewed as excessive taxation and government overreach.
Protesters say they oppose what HumansFirst describes as the “unaccountable” expansion of data centres and the “unacceptable infringement on our liberty.”
Opposition to new data centre projects has intensified in towns and counties across the country, with residents raising concerns over projects approved despite local objections, non-disclosure agreements signed by officials, and what critics say is insufficient regulatory oversight.
Lawmakers at the state and federal levels are also facing growing public concern over the potential impact of data centres on electricity prices, water resources and environmental pollution.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in June found that only one-third of Americans approve of the current pace of data centre construction in the United States, while just 14% said they would support building a data centre in their own community to support artificial intelligence projects for technology companies such as Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and xAI.