Residents Massively Oppose Data Centres, Only to be Labeled Foreign Agents
The technology giant Amazon has accused those opposing the construction of data centres of being spreaders of false information orchestrated by foreign powers. This statement was made directly by the top leader of the company’s cloud services, Matt Garman, amidst a growing wave of public opposition.
In an open letter spanning nearly 3,000 words, Garman urged the public to accept massive data centre developments, arguing that the United States must not lose the race for Artificial Intelligence (AI). He compared the project to the construction of the national highway network that once drove the economy. However, elsewhere, he accused narratives that do not support such development of being intentionally spread by unfriendly parties.
“In the era of social media and 24-hour news, fables spread faster than reality. Our opponents are deliberately planting erroneous information in the United States to slow our progress,” he stated.
Currently, there are over 100 policies regarding the suspension of data centre construction being discussed in various regions. Garman claimed that if these policies are passed, it would be equivalent to the United States admitting defeat.
However, this statement ignores the genuine concerns raised by residents. The community is not opposing the projects due to external instigation, but rather because of sharply rising electricity bills, diminishing water supplies, and worsening air pollution. Leaked internal documents from last year suggest that Amazon itself was aware of the significant water consumption used by their data centres but attempted to hide it from the public.
Carbon emissions produced by the company have also surged, despite Amazon’s pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. In Texas alone, dozens of data centres have utilised regulatory loopholes to power diesel-fuelled generators that are harmful to the environment.
Garman mentioned that thousands of jobs are created during construction, but failed to mention that most of these jobs disappear once the buildings are completed.
Recent surveys show that 62 per cent of US citizens support delaying the construction of AI data centres. Of that number, 40 per cent stated this is a top priority for them. This indicates that the opposition is not a falsehood created by other parties, but the voice of citizens experiencing direct impacts on their utility bills and living environments.
When reasonable arguments are no longer heard, accusations become the final weapon. Labelling citizens who are concerned about electricity bills and the environment as foreign agents will not lower bills or clean the air.