FLCA symposium updates Apopka on data centers, AI policy
The Florida Citizens Alliance (FLCA) held a symposium in Apopka, Florida, discussing the implications of data centers and AI policy. Panelists highlighted concerns over opaque zoning processes, the rapid obsolescence of hyperscale data centers, and the environmental impact of building on rural land. The event also addressed the risks of AI, particularly for children and national security, advocating for greater transparency and regulation.
The Florida Citizens Alliance (FLCA) hosted a symposium at Victory Church in Apopka, Florida, to educate attendees on the implications of data center proliferation and artificial intelligence (AI) policy. Panelist Sam Romain, chairman of Americans for Energy Dominance, expressed concern that the public is often unaware of the extent of planned data center developments due to technical zoning language.
Fellow panelist Tom Gaitens, senior advisor for Humans First, questioned the long-term viability of hyperscale data centers given their rapid obsolescence and criticized the common practice of developing them on rural land. He suggested exploring urban warehouse districts as alternative sites, which already possess necessary electrical infrastructure. Romain acknowledged the economic benefits data centers offer cities, citing Fort Meade as an example, but both panelists emphasized the critical need for increased public access to information, noting that Florida's SB 484 allows for nondisclosure agreements concerning data center projects.
The symposium's second half focused on AI. Alex Newman, CEO of Liberty Sentinel Media, warned about the risks of deploying AI technologies with children without parental consent, citing the potential for data collection and manipulation. Amy Kremer, chair of Humans First, highlighted AI's role in acts of violence, referencing a shooting enabled by AI where internal warnings at OpenAI were unaddressed. She called for the revival of Florida's Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights (CS/SB 482), which failed in the House.
Alex Dray, national organizing director of Young People’s Alliance, concluded by noting bipartisan legislative successes in states like Nebraska, Washington, and Hawaii in establishing safeguards for AI technologies despite pressure from big tech companies.