Nationwide protests target rapid expansion of data centers
Activists affiliated with the HumansFirst group plan coordinated demonstrations in more than 125 U.S. locations to oppose the accelerated construction of data centers for AI workloads.
Opponents of the fast-track construction of data centers are set to stage protests on Saturday in at least 125 sites across the United States, marking the first coordinated national effort against the expansion of AI infrastructure. The demonstrations are organized by HumansFirst, a grassroots coalition that describes the buildout as "unaccountable" and a threat to local liberty.
Human-rights and environmental concerns have driven opposition in towns and counties where developers have sometimes secured approvals through non-disclosure agreements with local officials, limiting public scrutiny. State and federal lawmakers are now facing growing voter pressure over potential increases in electricity costs, water consumption, and pollution linked to data-center projects.
A June Reuters/Ipsos poll found only one-third of Americans approve of the current pace of data-center construction, and just 14% would support a facility built to serve AI projects for major technology firms. While the Data Center Coalition, the industry's lobbying group, declined to comment on the protests, it previously emphasized a commitment to being responsible neighbors.
HumansFirst co-founder Amy Kremer, a former Tea Party organizer, said the backlash is nonpartisan. > "They just woke up one day and found out they're going to have this monstrosity in their community, and they don't want it," she said, adding that the issue could influence upcoming midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race. Kremer criticized both Republican and Democratic approaches, calling for transparent development processes, protection of water resources, community benefits such as union jobs, and mechanisms to hold developers accountable.
Protest activity is expected to be highest in Texas, with 16 locations, followed by Georgia (11), and California, Florida, and Pennsylvania (seven each). Organizers include first-time activist Eva Cardona in Texas, who said she wanted to move beyond online posts, and Ivan DelSol in California’s Imperial County, where a proposed center could draw 260 million gallons of water per year from the Colorado River. > "It's dystopian that you would use this much fresh water for AI," DelSol said.
The data-center industry maintains that its water usage is modest compared with other sectors, even as water scarcity remains a prominent public concern in affected regions.