Tea Party founder launches nationwide ‘Data Center Revolt’ against AI data center expansion
Tea Party founder Amy Kremer has launched a nationwide "Data Center Revolt" campaign, starting in Austin, Texas, to oppose AI data center expansion. The Humans First group argues that tech corporations burden local communities with infrastructure costs and lack transparency. They advocate for local community control over decisions affecting electricity rates, water, and land.
Amy Kremer, a founder of the Tea Party movement and chairwoman of Humans First, has initiated a nationwide "Data Center Revolt" bus tour to oppose AI data center expansion. The tour, launching September 12 in Austin, Texas, aims to empower local communities against what Kremer describes as Big Tech's encroachment and the burden of infrastructure costs on residents. Kremer draws parallels between this movement and the early Tea Party, advocating for local control over critical resources like electricity rates, water, and land, and demanding an end to secretive corporate welfare deals.
While Humans First champions local transparency and representation, Kremer clarifies that the group does not support federal or statewide moratoriums on data centers. The organization has faced scrutiny regarding its origins and funding, with reports linking it to the Center for AI Safety (CAIS), a nonprofit supported by Open Philanthropy. Kremer asserts that Humans First is now an independent conservative organization, clarifying that an initial loan from CAIS is being repaid and they do not accept funding that compromises their "America First mission."
The campaign intersects with broader national discussions on AI development and national security. Kremer supports American leadership in AI but criticizes the reliance on Chinese components and alleged sales of AI models to Chinese tech firms. She also challenges county boards for providing tax breaks to tech corporations while residents face rising utility costs, contrasting this with the White House's voluntary "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" which seeks to shift infrastructure costs to AI companies and utilities.
Furthermore, the anti-data center movement has been scrutinized for potential foreign influence, with reports from the Bitcoin Policy Institute suggesting some opposition efforts are linked to pro-CCP figures. Kremer, however, maintains the campaign's focus is on protecting American families and taxpayers, rejecting the notion that AI leadership necessitates unchecked power for Big Tech. She urges lawmakers to establish stricter guidelines for tech companies, emphasizing that "people want Congress to act" to ensure accountability and safety.