Public resistance to data centers grows amid AI expansion

Frontier AI labs are investing trillions of dollars in data center projects to scale AI computation. However, public opposition is rising, with over 60% of Americans favoring limits on new data centers, according to surveys. In the second quarter of 2026, $68 billion in data center projects were halted by local opponents. A new report from Data & Society, based on 18 months of ethnographic research in Pennsylvania, highlights growing distrust in AI's 'inevitable' narrative. Researchers interviewed 44 Pennsylvanians between 2024 and 2026, noting residents' skepticism rooted in past industrial trauma. Governor Josh Shapiro initially promoted data centers but later imposed new regulations. Trade unions support projects for potential jobs, despite limited long-term employment. The Data Center Coalition, a trade group, spent $19,000 lobbying Pennsylvania. Resistance is diverse, including NIMBYs, environmental groups, and public health concerns. Residents worry about power bills, property values, and data center tactics like NDAs. Researchers emphasize trust issues, as AI integration feels intrusive. Livia Garofalo notes, 'I’m alone in my house, and I’m talking to a chatbot, and I’m feeling loved and cared for, and yet I know that this is a commodity, and I know I’m being extracted upon.'