The AI Backlash Is Turning Violent: From Molotov Cocktails to Data Center Shutdowns, a Movement Is Building
A growing violent and political backlash against AI and data centers is emerging across the US, exemplified by a city councilman's home being shot at in Indianapolis after he supported a data center project. This movement has led to significant political consequences, including the removal of elected officials in Festus, Missouri, and the enactment of a statewide moratorium in Maine. Communities nationwide have blocked or delayed billions in data center projects.
Ron Gibson, an Indianapolis city councilman, experienced a violent attack on his home, with thirteen bullets ripping through his front door, after he publicly supported a data center project. A note left behind explicitly stated, "NO DATA CENTERS."
Separately, Daniel Moreno-Gama allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's San Francisco mansion and threatened OpenAI's headquarters, reflecting a broader anti-AI sentiment. A recent survey indicates that only 26% of Americans view AI as a positive force, signaling a rapid shift in public perception.
This backlash extends beyond coastal tech hubs, manifesting in widespread protests against a $6 billion data center in Festus, Missouri. Despite the city council's approval of the project, voters subsequently removed four incumbent officials. Similar uprisings have been observed in North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Independence, Missouri. According to Data Center Watch, at least 142 activist groups are active in 24 states, contributing to the blocking or postponement of approximately $64 billion worth of projects in the last two years. Maine's legislature also passed the nation's first statewide data center moratorium, overriding a gubernatorial veto.
The opposition movement is characterized by an unusual bipartisan coalition, uniting individuals with diverse political affiliations against AI and data center developments. Executives who had previously cautioned about AI's potential dangers now appear surprised by the public's serious and increasingly aggressive response, suggesting a miscalculation in how the technology would be received.