PA groups rally in Harrisburg against data centers, deportation

About 150 Pennsylvanians, representing around 15 advocacy groups, are organizing a rally at the Capitol in Harrisburg on April 22. They plan to protest the tech industry's growing influence in data centers for artificial intelligence and urge legislators to safeguard residents and the environment. Mary Collier, a distributed organizer for Pennsylvania Stands Up, stated the group's firm opposition to the construction of new hyperscale AI data centers across Pennsylvania. She noted a new report detailing Big Tech’s expanding footprint in the state and its effects on local communities, including concerns about water use, air pollution, and privacy. Collier questioned the use of public funds to support Big Tech when nearly 40% of families struggle financially, arguing that data centers promise jobs that often don't benefit local communities. The rally aims to support Sen. Katie Muth, D-Chester, who plans to introduce a bill for a statewide three-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development to protect local communities. Collier also highlighted the increasing connection between new AI data centers and federal immigration systems, claiming they facilitate data collection for facial recognition and tracking. She specifically mentioned ICE storing biometric data on Amazon servers without consent and accused companies like Palantir of creating infrastructure used to share data with ICE.