AI Backlash Has US Law Enforcement Concerned About 'Anti-Tech Extremism': Investigation
US law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and FBI, are increasingly concerned about "anti-tech extremism" stemming from public anger over AI and data centers, classifying it as an emerging domestic threat. This sentiment is rooted in local issues such as electricity demand, water use, noise, and environmental impact, leading to widespread opposition to data center development across the nation.
A WIRED investigation, based on over 1,000 pages of unpublished documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, reveals that U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies are increasingly labeling public anger over artificial intelligence and data centers as "anti-tech extremism," an emerging domestic threat. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI, and various regional fusion centers have circulated reports describing this sentiment.
The documents indicate agencies are tracking criticism of AI, data centers, and technology companies at a time when the Trump administration prioritized AI expansion and infrastructure growth. A New York Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau report warned that a "chaotic atmosphere" from AI adoption could incite protests, civil unrest, and "anti-tech violent extremist activity," especially in large cities. Similarly, a Western Pennsylvania fusion center cautioned that data centers could be targets for foreign actors, criminal groups, and extremists due to their strategic economic role.
Legal experts, including Spencer Reynolds of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, argue that these reports risk blurring the lines between violence and protected dissent, noting that "suspicious activity reports" often focus on vague or innocent behaviors. The scrutiny intensifies as nationwide opposition to data centers grows, with a recent Gallup poll showing 70% of Americans oppose building an AI data center in their local area. This opposition is largely driven by concerns over electricity demand, water usage, noise, property values, environmental impact, and utility costs.
Private intelligence firms are also reportedly monitoring online anti-technology discussions, such as SITE Intelligence tracking alleged violent rhetoric in a "neo-Luddite" Discord server. However, the firm's founder stated their focus is only on communities with a proven link to real-world harm.