Lowell residents protest AI companies and data center development
Protesters in Lowell, Massachusetts, rallied against AI companies and data center development, urging stronger regulation than proposed federal legislation. The demonstration highlights growing public distrust of Big Tech and AI, also referenced by a recent settlement involving Meta. The EPA is also planning to eliminate a federal requirement for public input on air pollution permits, including for data centers.
A small protest took place outside US Representative Lori Trahan's office in Lowell, Massachusetts, last week, where about two-dozen people advocated for stricter regulation of AI companies and opposed data center construction. Signs bore messages like "Data centers out of Lowell" and "More tech oversight not less," targeting Trahan, who is currently developing federal legislation to regulate AI models.
Protesters argued that Trahan's bill does not go far enough, contending it might preempt stronger state-level protections, particularly those being considered in Massachusetts. They favor comprehensive state standards, fearing the federal bill would leave too much responsibility with companies and hinder states from implementing their own AI testing and safety laws. Tufts junior Grant Pinsley, a protester, emphasized the importance of states experimenting with regulations to protect residents from AI harms.
This grassroots movement, supported by groups such as QuitGPT and College Democrats of Massachusetts, comes amid mounting public distrust of Big Tech and AI, alongside opposition to data center construction. Polling indicates significant public concern about AI's potential negative impacts and strong opposition to nearby data center development. Meanwhile, Attorney General Andrea Campbell and other state AGs recently secured a settlement from Meta regarding youth use of its apps, underscoring the broader push for tech accountability.
In a related development, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to remove a federal requirement that mandates states to publicize and solicit public input on air pollution permit applications for various industrial facilities, including new data centers.