The left and right agree on one thing: no data centers
A bipartisan movement is emerging in the US against the construction of AI data centers, with both conservatives and liberals citing concerns over environmental impact and local infrastructure. The opposition has led to local moratoriums and protests, signaling that data centers are becoming a focal point for political frustration.
Why it matters
The backlash against data centers represents a new front in the debate over AI's physical footprint and its impact on local communities and resources.
Today, I’m talking with Gaby Del Valle, a policy reporter here at The Verge , about the growing backlash against AI data centers. Gaby recently reported a fantastic piece about Hernando County, Florida, where last month the county commission unanimously approved a yearlong moratorium on data center construction. She attended a protest there organized by a group called Humans First , a conservative grassroots movement focused on combating AI data center build-outs. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Decoder wherever you get your podcasts. Head here . Not a subscriber? You can sign up here . You’ll hear Gaby explain that it was part of a bigger, broader, and bipartisan opposition to data centers. Not only as physical buildings, but as infrastructure that powers an AI boom that takes local jobs and fills feeds with slop.
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