The Dark Side of the Data Center Boom
Resistance to data centers is rising across the US as new ones are being built, particularly in rural areas, causing concerns over noise and air pollution, water depletion, and energy costs. The data center boom is linked to exploitation, including the use of fossil fuels and minerals obtained through violence and inhumane mining practices.
New data centers are being built across the US, with 67% located in rural areas, mostly in the Midwest and South. A data center in Southaven, Mississippi, is reportedly causing high levels of noise and air pollution, terrorizing the local community. The rapid expansion of data centers requires raw materials, including fossil fuels, often obtained through violence. Fossil fuels power almost 60% of data centers, especially for 'emergency generators' that run almost 24/7. The extraction of needed minerals like silicon, lithium, and cobalt involves destabilizing sovereign regions and inhumane mining practices, including child labor. The Pentagon's use of AI in military operations has resulted in war crimes, such as the bombing of a girls' school in Minab, Iran. Data centers create few local jobs, raising questions about the morality of brokering deals with tech companies at the expense of people and the planet.
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