Anti-Data Center Group Planned Massive ‘Revolt.’ Barely A Soul Showed Up
Humans First, an anti-data center group, launched a national "Data Center Revolt" bus tour but has struggled to attract significant attendance at its events across the country, including a recent stop in Alexandria, Virginia. The low turnout has led to questions about the group's national reach and undisclosed financing, with pro-AI groups dismissing the effort as a manufactured campaign. Despite the low attendance, allies argue the tour serves as a mobile billboard to raise awareness for local control over data center developments.
Humans First, a conservative grassroots organization led by former Tea Party activist Amy Kremer, has embarked on a national "Data Center Revolt" bus tour across 27 states. The tour, which began in Austin, Texas, aims to mobilize opposition against artificial intelligence and data center developments, which the group refers to as "Big AI globalists." However, the tour has consistently drawn small crowds at its stops, prompting scrutiny of its national reach and undisclosed financing.
A recent event at Bren Mar Park in Alexandria, Virginia, observed by the Daily Caller News Foundation, saw only a handful of supporters and journalists, despite 18 initial registrations. Similar low turnouts were reported in Effingham County, Georgia, Atlanta, and Tyler, Texas. Chris Barron, a spokesperson for Humans First, defended the attendance, while the pro-AI advocacy group Innovation Council labeled the tour as an "astroturf" operation, suggesting it is a manufactured campaign possibly funded by "dark anti-American forces and foreign governments."
Allies of Humans First, such as Brendan Steinhauser of the Alliance for Secure AI, contended that the tour's primary goal isn't massive attendance but rather to act as a "mobile billboard" to spread awareness. Jason Van Beek, chief government affairs officer at the Future of Life Institute, emphasized the importance of local control in addressing data center issues. Cathy Latham, Humans First's Texas state director, highlighted concerns about a lack of transparency and secrecy in local government dealings with data center developers, advocating for state and local solutions rather than federal policies.
The article also referenced other instances of data center opposition, including resident protests against a 3 million-square-foot project in Mona, Utah, and the impact of anti-data center sentiment on primary election outcomes in Box Elder County, Utah. It also mentioned a lawsuit filed against developer Kevin O'Leary by two nonprofit organizations. Humans First's funding, including a loan from the Center for AI Safety (CAIS), which has received funding from Open Philanthropy and FTX, remains undisclosed.