Data center supporters face bullets as politicians try to pin rising costs on big tech – but there's a gaping hole in the narrative

In an alarming escalation of anti-tech sentiment, an Indiana city councilman, Ron Gibson, had his home shot at 13 times, with a "no data centers" note left behind, shortly after he supported a data center rezoning petition. Separately, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's San Francisco home was targeted in a Molotov cocktail attack by an AI opponent, followed by a second incident involving firearms. These incidents coincide with growing nationwide protests against data center development. The article explores the narrative that data centers are responsible for rising electricity costs, a claim disputed by experts from the Institute for Energy Research. Their analysis suggests no statistically significant correlation, attributing cost discrepancies to state policies rather than data center concentration. Despite this, many communities continue to reject data centers due to perceived high electricity and water usage, and limited economic benefits. Journalist Robert Bryce noted a "raging backlash" against data centers, documenting 70 communities since January 1 that have rejected or restricted such projects. This opposition spans the political spectrum, with citizens "fighting back in the physical world." Furthermore, Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation to halt data center development, and other lawmakers are considering a federal moratorium to address concerns about AI's impact on electricity prices and to allow "democracy a chance to catch up." A September 2025 Gallup survey indicated 80% public preference for slowing AI development.