Washington Post called out on op-ed in favor of massive data center construction

An opinion piece published in the Washington Post on March 24, co-written by Palantir's Anthony Bak and Mehdi Alhassani, has ignited a controversy by suggesting that a halt to data center construction would exacerbate inequality, limiting access to artificial intelligence. The article, titled "Halting data center construction will entrench inequality," was met with strong disapproval on social media, where users, including the newsroom More Perfect Union, labeled it "blatant propaganda." Critics speculated that Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, might be using the platform to benefit his business interests and those of other major tech companies. This debate highlights the increasing public concern over the rapid expansion of data centers, which are crucial for AI development. These facilities face criticism for their noise pollution and substantial resource demands, particularly in energy, which contributes to rising electric bills, and water, with projections suggesting daily consumption rivaling that of New York City. Community-level opposition is growing, exemplified by residents in Monterey Park, California, who successfully protested and halted a significant data center construction project, and a Kentucky family who declined a $26 million offer to sell their farmland for an AI data center. Concurrently, legislative bodies are addressing the regulatory landscape for AI infrastructure. In November 2025, 260 state lawmakers from all 50 states urged Congress to oppose a proposed ten-year moratorium on state AI laws included in a budget and reconciliation bill, underscoring the complex and national scope of the issue.