- More Americans would rather live next to a nuclear reactor than an AI-supporting data center, and the backlash is at a deeper cultural level, with some recognizing that the internet is on net simply bad.
- American platform operators report that China is actively fueling AI-skeptical sentiment across Western social media, with propaganda aimed at inducing anxiety and slowing down rivals.
- The staggering 60-point swing on the issue in just six months more than justifies Meyer’s astonishment.
- The United States still “holds the upper hand” in the “AI arms race between America and China,” as wrote in The Spectator.
- Data centers consume about as much water as a golf course or farm, many of which are located in drought-prone or water-stressed areas but do not elicit such passionate opposition.
- Data centers vibrate at a low frequency that can bring up cortisol levels, as one told CNN.
A backlash against data centers is gaining momentum in the U.S., with a significant cultural shift as more Americans prefer living near nuclear reactors over AI-supporting data centers. This change reflects a broader skepticism towards technology, particularly AI, which is being exacerbated by Chinese propaganda on Western social media.1267
The 60-point swing in public opinion regarding data centers in just six months underscores the depth of this sentiment. Critics argue that data centers, which consume as much water as a golf course, are often located in drought-prone areas, yet they do not face the same level of opposition as nuclear facilities. One observer noted, “Data centers vibrate at a low frequency that can bring up cortisol levels.”4
Regulatory frameworks are also evolving, with data centers required to cover costs associated with their operations, including grid upgrades and large-load tariffs. This is part of a broader effort to ensure that residential customers are not subsidizing industrial loads. “Data centers are required to pay the costs they create,” a source explained.
The cultural implications of this backlash are significant, as one commentator suggested, “I think the data center backlash is at a deeper cultural level the expression of people recognizing that the internet is on net simply bad.” This sentiment reflects a growing unease with the impacts of technology on society, particularly as AI continues to evolve.
“The backlash is partly cultural, with The Free Press noting it reflects a recognition that the internet is on net bad. Data centers consume as much water as a golf course or farm, often in drought-prone areas, and vibrate at low frequencies that can raise cortisol levels.”
National Review
