Tennessee voters are increasingly wary of the technology that’s watching them
A Nashville Banner survey found Tennessee voters increasingly concerned about surveillance technology, artificial intelligence and data center expansion. Candidates including Marsha Blackburn, Jerri Green and others have taken differing positions on opposition to planned Nashville data centers, AI regulation and a possible statewide data center moratorium.
A survey by the Nashville Banner found surveillance technology and artificial intelligence among Tennessee voters' leading concerns ahead of the fall elections. Opposition to automated license plate readers has spread across the state, while backlash has also grown against proposed data centers near the Nashville Zoo and on the Fisk University campus. Republican gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn has joined opposition to the Nashville Zoo project, while Democratic candidate Jerri Green has proposed a statewide data center moratorium if elected.
Candidates across Tennessee have offered varied positions on license plate readers, AI regulation and data center policy. Some have called for privacy safeguards and state or local oversight, while others support broader deployment of surveillance and continued AI development. The article frames the issues as politically unsettled and likely to prompt further state legislation and debate after the election.