Meet the S.F. congressional candidates: Do you support a data center moratorium?
Congressional candidates for San Francisco's CA-11 district, Scott Wiener and Connie Chan, are divided on a proposed nationwide data center moratorium. Wiener opposes the moratorium, fearing it would harm U.S. AI competitiveness, while Chan supports it to address environmental, economic, and safety concerns. Their stances reflect a broader debate on regulating AI and its infrastructure.
The article highlights the diverging views of California's 11th congressional district candidates, State Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan, on a proposed nationwide data center moratorium. This debate arises from public concerns regarding the rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers, which have drawn criticism for noise pollution, increased electricity costs, and substantial environmental impacts due to their high power and water consumption. Local grassroots efforts have already led to the shelving of some data center projects across the country.
State Senator Scott Wiener expressed opposition to a blanket data center moratorium, arguing it could undermine efforts by U.S.-based AI labs to develop advanced models, potentially giving a competitive edge to other countries like China and the United Kingdom. While acknowledging the need to regulate technology and avoid past mistakes with social media and data privacy, Wiener believes a moratorium could hinder technological progress and reduce potential leverage over AI companies.
In contrast, Supervisor Connie Chan advocates for a nationwide data center moratorium until Congress implements comprehensive regulations governing the economic, environmental, and safety aspects of AI. She emphasizes that American leadership in AI should not come at the expense of working people and communities. Chan is the only candidate in the race to sign the AI Pact, which promotes a people-first approach to AI and demands accountability from its developers.