Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) urged Congress to place new limits on data center development and surveillance technology, arguing that communities and Americans should have greater control over how these technologies affect their lives.
Khanna Targets Residential Data Centers
On Wednesday, in a post on X, Khanna wrote, "I’m calling on Congress to ban data centers in residential communities and to ban federal funding for Flock cameras."
In a video accompanying the post, Khanna warned against a potential "surveillance state" in America and said technological innovation should not come at the expense of privacy or natural resources.
"Americans are for innovation but not for the extraction of natural resources. Americans are for safety, but not for the abuse of their privacy," he said.
"Communities should have the right to say no to a data center being shoved down their throats."
Khanna Raises Flock Camera Privacy Concerns
On Flock cameras, Khanna raised concerns about potential misuse of surveillance technology, saying Americans should have the right "not to be surveilled by Flock cameras by rogue police officers."
Trump-Warren Data Center Clash
This week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) criticized President Donald Trump’s support for AI data centers, arguing families should not face higher electricity bills to support Big Tech’s AI expansion.
Trump defended the facilities, saying communities that rejected them could remain "backwards and poor," while those that embraced them could become "successful and rich" through lower taxes and more jobs.
Trump also warned that opposition could benefit China, saying Beijing "could not be happier with this anti-Data Center movement."
AI Data Center Debate Intensifies
Last month, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) CEO Elon Musk said China was "by far" the strongest competitor in AI, reiterating his 2011 warning about China becoming a major rival in rocket technology.
Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang defended America’s AI data center boom, arguing that the buildout could boost U.S. manufacturing, create jobs and strengthen the power grid.
He also urged data center developers to work with local communities, earn trust and create local benefits.
Earlier, Mark Cuban said local communities should hold AI data center operators accountable if they broke laws or caused environmental damage.
He argued that communities should take strong action when AI infrastructure projects caused documented harm, saying, "The AI companies need the data centers more than they need air. Take advantage of that fact."
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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