US voters push back against data centres ahead of midterm elections
Two weeks before the US midterm elections, voters from both major parties are objecting to data centres that draw heavily on local water and power. A France 24 debate programme also examines calls to regulate artificial intelligence.
Two weeks before the US midterm elections, in which voters choose members of Congress, there is bipartisan pushback against data centres. These are facilities housing the servers that run artificial intelligence and other computing services, and they are described as draining water and power from the communities around them. The issue is covered in the latest edition of "The Debate", a discussion programme on the French international news channel France 24.
From awe to anxiety
According to the programme's description, ChatGPT was still brand new just two years ago, and most voters regarded AI with awe. In 2026, chatbots and large language models write papers and produce campaign ads.
As in 2024, the main concern in swing constituencies remains inflation, summed up in the programme as "the price of eggs". But worry about making it to the end of the month is now joined by worry about the end of the world.
Regulation and market jitters
The programme asks about calls for AI regulation despite fierce resistance from tech billionaires. It also considers whether the stock market's latest wobbles suggest that the race to corner the market and scale up at breakneck speed may be running out of road.
The programme was produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Elisa Amiri and Ilayda Habip. The source gives no specific figures on data centre consumption or polling results.
