{
  "id": 20212078,
  "title": "BUSINESS REFLECTION: Crossed Wires: The data centres are not the problem — it’s the tenants",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/business-reflection-crossed-wires-the-data-centres-are-not-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T18:52:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-15-crossed-wires-the-data-centres-are-not-the-problem-its-the-tenants/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In recent U.S. midterm elections, 40 out of 41 local ballot measures aimed at regulating data-centre development were approved, according to Ballotpedia. This overwhelming verdict has raised questions about the resistance to data-centres, as local bans are unlikely to stop AI's expansion or curb Big Tech's growing influence. Despite the backlash against data-centres, the expansion of AI infrastructure continues unabated. In 2023, before the rise of consumer AI, there were over 5,000 data centres worldwide, with nearly 1,000 of them being large-scale \"hyperscale\" facilities owned by major tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.\n\nThe data-centre resistance movement has gained traction politically, but it seems to stem from a feeling of unease about the concentration of power among a few key players, rather than the data-centres themselves. The shift in public opinion towards disapproving of data-centres appears to be driven by concerns about a handful of influential individuals, such as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Larry Ellison, and Jeff Karp, who wield significant influence over the future of technology. While local bans may provide a sense of relief for some, they are unlikely to have a substantial impact on the growth of AI infrastructure in the long run.",
  "summary": "Data-centre backlash is spreading across the US, yet local bans are unlikely to halt AI’s expansion or curb Big Tech’s growing power.",
  "key_points": [
    "40 out of 41 local ballot measures to regulate data-centre development approved",
    "AI infrastructure expansion continues despite data-centre resistance",
    "Concerns about power concentration among tech giants like Musk, Altman, and Ellison"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}