What data center backlash? My night at a raucous 'pro-data center' party.
A 'pro-data center' party in Washington, DC, highlighted the growing intersection of tech advocacy and political networking. The event showcased optimism for infrastructure development despite increasing local opposition to data center expansion.
Why it matters
The event illustrates the rising political influence of the tech industry as it seeks to normalize and promote infrastructure projects amidst public scrutiny.
Hundreds gathered for a pro-data center party in Washington, DC. Jordan Pandy/Business Insider A pro-data center party in Washington, DC, drew a large crowd to celebrate American innovation. The party had AI art, themed cocktails, and optimism for the future of data centers. The crowd was energetic and optimistic — except for the few protesters thrown out. Data centers are drawing protests and city hall spats across the country. You wouldn't have known it Saturday night in downtown Washington, DC. When I arrived at Data after Dark, a "pro-data center" party 10 minutes before it was scheduled to start, there were already a few dozen attendees waiting in the rain to get into Pubkey, a bitcoin-themed bar. The line outside the bar before the doors officially opened.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in