Leaks reveal US authorities concerned about the rise of ‘anti-tech extremists’ as AI data center issues become increasingly contentious — critics say this could lead to surveillance, criminalization of peaceful opposition | Tom's Hardware
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Leaked documents purportedly show that the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and state and local law enforcement have started looking into “anti-tech extremism,” and are assessing various intelligence sources for signs of violence. Wired reports that an intelligence and counterterrorism office has warned of chaos stemming from protests against AI, potentially leading to civil unrest or attacks on AI data centers. More concerningly, the report seems to group various ideologies, concerns, and even social media trolling into a single broad category."The chaotic atmosphere that may result from emergent AI technology in the next five years may fuel large-scale protests that devolve into civil unrest and anti-tech violent extremist activity, especially in large urban areas such as New York City," a New York-based bureau said in one leaked report. A fusion center out of Western Pennsylvania, which helps coordinate intelligence agencies with state and local authorities, also reportedly said that “adversarial actors, including state-sponsored entities, criminal groups, and extremists, such as homegrown violent extremists or environmental extremists, may target U.S. data centers.” It also added, “these actors could exploit the strategic importance of data centers to the U.S. economy, using them for activities like cryptocurrency mining or leveraging third-party entities, such as front companies, to gain access to U.S. data and infrastructure.”All these reports come in the backdrop of increasing resistance against data centers in the U.S. Even as the White House pursues an AI-friendly policy, 7 out of 10 Americans are opposed to having an AI data center built within the vicinity of their homes.Latest Videos FromMany of the concerns stem from reports of steep electricity pricing spikes, massive water use resulting in huge impacts on local water quality, and even issues of 24/7 noise pollution breaking the peace in previously quiet rural areas. These perceived threats to the lifestyles of residents near these proposed projects have led to contentious public hearings and confrontations with elected officials, with one instance leading to the arrest of an individual for going a few seconds over the allocated time limit."These intelligence reports are part of a long tradition of agencies identifying protest or even simply having strong opinions as precursors to violence," NAACP Legal Defense Fund senior counsel Spencer Reynolds told the publication. “Suspicious activity reports are incredibly unreliable, often about vague or innocent behavior, issued under permissive standards. These reports, often received in large volumes, allow officers to inject their own biases and see what they want to see in the facts.” The report also cites experts who say some of the suspicious activity listed in the reports could fall under peaceful protest.
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Jowi MoralesContributing WriterJowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.
16 Comments
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I don't understand how you expect anyone to say anything non-political on this subject matter.
But "anti-tech extremists" is a hilarious label to slap onto people. Oh, so the Amish are taking up arms now? lol
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"The chaotic atmosphere that may result from emergent AI technology in the next five years may fuel large-scale protests that devolve into civil unrest and anti-tech violent extremist activity, especially in large urban areas such as New York City," a New York-based bureau said in one leaked report the wording used can be used for virtually any disliked topic.
(AFAIK) there has to date not been an attack on any ai datacenter just peaceful protests.
Protesting soemthing that has reports (multiple) of adverse effects on the area aroud them is a valid reason to disliek them. Doesnt mean anyone is goign to attack them.
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Read the memo. This has very little to do with "anti-tech extremism", and repeating that phrasing just legitimizes this as a necessary action.
The whole thing is framed as an affront to "American", "Christian", and "capitalist" principals by purported left-wing extremists. It's essentially a thinly veiled fascist manifesto, using widespread, bipartisan objections against the AI industry's behavior as a wedge to target specific political enemies and out-groups.
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"The chaotic atmosphere that may result from emergent AI technology in the next five years may fuel large-scale protests that devolve into civil unrest and anti-tech violent extremist activity, especially in large urban areas such as New York City," a New York-based bureau said in one leaked report. I'm so glad I live in a time where AI data centers are now as important to the national identity as football is. /sarcasm
These agencies and organizations were created by the people for the people -- they should not be the stooges of the AI supervillains who want to monetize every bit of human knowledge, creativity, and labor to sell it back to us as some sort of utility. We are expending far too many resources protecting the AI bubble and not enough on our own neighborhoods and regions.
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There are some on this very forum.
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bigdragon said:I'm so glad I live in a time where AI data centers are now as important to the national identity as football is. /sarcasm
These agencies and organizations were created by the people for the people -- they should not be the stooges of the AI supervillains who want to monetize every bit of human knowledge, creativity, and labor to sell it back to us as some sort of utility. We are expending far too many resources protecting the AI bubble and not enough on our own neighborhoods and regions.The sad reality is that the "people in charge", only consider you a "person" if you earn over a certain amount and "human" with a similar, yet more depressing, set of parameters I'm not going to mention here. It's just rather depressing. As depressing as the people defending it, not knowing they're either about to be cut off from their definition or already cut off since a long while.
Regards.
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This:"critics say this could lead to surveillance, criminalization of peaceful opposition In other words, business as usual.
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Ever in the pocket of big business, because that's who pays them. And of course, they're going to use it as an excuse to go after political opposition
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No, not anti-tech - anti "let some company do what they want willy-nilly, drain away and/or contaminate our water supply, and be given first priority to a limited power grid"
And, then, when they're caught even going above and beyond that, say, for example, stealing 29 million gallons of water unaccounted for, the officials in charge say there will be no penalty, with a sort of "boys will be boys" reaction and refusal to impose penalties.
Almost as if the approach is "Corporations are people, but people aren't people."
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Burning, looting and murder is OK but not survellance of "protesters" to prevent violence.
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