Conservative organization plans nationwide protest against AI data centers on July 18

Exclusive: Conservatives plan nationwide protest against AI data centers

Why it matters: Republicans in Washington are trying to pay attention to Americans' concerns over AI's impacts while supporting U.S. advancements in the technology. Driving the news: Humans First, a conservative organization that says it is fighting for an "America First AI policy," is planning a "Nationwide Day of Protest" against what it describes as the "unchecked expansion of AI data centers" on July 18. * The group said rallies are currently set for at least 13 locations across Georgia, California, Texas, Florida and Virginia. * According to Humans First, the protests are meant to "give grassroots Americans, particularly grassroots conservatives, a voice in the critical debate over policies relating to the building of massive AI data centers." What they're saying: "I was one of the earliest leaders of the Tea Party movement in 2009, and I can tell you that the disconnect between the elites and the base that gave rise to the Tea Party movement can be seen today in the battle over AI data centers," Amy Kremer, chair of Humans First, said in a statement. * "In the spirit of the Tea Party, we are announcing a Nationwide Day of Protest against the unchecked and unwanted expansion of AI data centers and the dangerous AI systems being built within them to be held on Saturday July 18th," said Kremer. * Kremer said the conservative base is being ignored by Washington politicians who are "doing the bidding of big tech and big AI billionaires," calling data centers the top issue igniting anger among the conservative base. Context: Kremer is a longtime Tea Party figure who helped organize the rally preceding the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. * Kremer led a letter signed by conservative leaders last month pushing for strict AI vetting, Axios previously reported. A website advertising the rallies lists what it sees as the dangers of data centers: secrecy, water use, air pollution, national security, energy, land use and noise. What we're watching: Liberals and conservatives who are against data centers could find common cause on the issue.

US Conservatives organize 'Nationwide Day of Protest against the unchecked and unwanted expansion of AI data centers' - organization pledges to give grassroots Americans "a voice in the critical debate over policies

Humans First to give a national opportunity to Americans opposed to data centers * Republican group to organize national day of protest against data centers * Humans First aims to give grassroots Americans a voice in policy surround data centers * Growing opposition is bipartisan, but is causing a rift between Trump and Republicans US Conservatives are organizing a national protest against what they describe as "the unchecked and unwanted expansion of AI data centers". Exclusive Axios reporting claims the Republican-aligned Humans First group seeks to organize rallies in 13 locations across Georgia, California, Texas, Florida and Virginia. The group says the protests will offer "grassroots Americans, particularly grassroots conservatives, a voice in the critical debate over policies relating to the building of massive AI data centers". Tea Party to protest data center expansion The Human First is chaired by Amy Kremer, a notable member of the 2009 Tea Party movement, supporter of Donald Trump, and a key figure in the group that organized the January 6 'Stop the Steal' rally which culminated in the attack on the US Capitol building by Trump supporters. "I was one of the earliest leaders of the Tea Party movement in 2009," Kremer said in a statement, "and I can tell you that the disconnect between the elites and the base that gave rise to the Tea Party movement can be seen today in the battle over AI data centers." Discontent surrounding the rapid growth in the construction of data centers - fueled by AI demand - has been growing in the United States, with many grassroots movements successfully delaying and cancelling over $130 billion worth of buildouts. Many of the local groups opposing data centers have been bipartisan and largely working class, with other notable efforts coming from both Democrat and Republican representatives. "In the spirit of the Tea Party, we are announcing a Nationwide Day of Protest against the unchecked and unwanted expansion of AI data centers and the dangerous AI systems being built within them to be held on Saturday July 18th," said Kremer. Humans First said in a statement to Axios that the rallies are open to anyone wishing to oppose data centers, but the group was primarily focused on rallying conservative Americans. What happened to the Chinese psyop? Earlier in June, several high-ranking Republican officials backed by fossil fuel and cryptocurrency advocacy groups sent an open letter calling on FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate evidence that data center opposition was being fueled by "foreign influence campaigns targeting artificial intelligence development in the U.S.". The evidence given in the letter pointed the finger at China, claiming that Chinese propaganda was being funneled into the "environmental left" to assist in "hijacking MAGA" to pass legislation opposing the construction of data centers. OpenAI later revealed that it had deleted a number of accounts associated with social media influence campaigns organized by China, but stated that these campaigns had failed to gain any traction. The wave of Republican opposition to data centers is likely to cause a rift in President Trump's support base, with many supporting the President himself and his planned buildout of fossil fuel energy production, but opposed to the rapid expansion of data centers and the growing negative sentiment around AI. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.