Bernie Sanders and AOC propose a ban on data center construction
Bernie Sanders and AOC propose a ban on data center construction
In Brief
Posted:
The explosion of new data center projects in the US has led to a growing backlash against the infrastructure that powers AI. Two influential politicians are now proposing a ban on any new data centers with peak power loads in excess of 20 megawatts.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are introducing companion legislation in their respective chambers today that would halt the projects until Congress enacts comprehensive AI regulation.
Sanders’ office points to remarks from a variety of tech luminaries who have discussed their fears of AI and called for stricter rules or pauses on development. These include Elon Musk (who has said “AI is far more dangerous than nukes. So why do we have no regulatory oversight?”), Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Nobel Prize-winner Geoffrey Hinton.
A March Pew Research poll found that a majority of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, with just 10% of those surveyed saying their excitement outweighed their concern. However, massive political spending by AI companies and fears of losing an AI arms race with China may make such legislation difficult to enact.
This bill might be seen as an opening bid for what AI regulation should look like. The two lawmakers want the US government to review and certify models ahead of their release, enact protections against AI-driven job displacement, limit the environmental impact of data infrastructure, and require union labor in its construction. They also seek to prohibit the export of advanced chips to countries without similar rules — which, at this point, is most of them.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026
Newsletters
Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news
Related
Latest in AI
Commandité
Commandité
Commandité
Commandité
Annonces
Catégories
Lire la suite
David Chilton: How gen Z and millennials can set themselves up for financial success in 2026You owe it to yourself to know the basics of personal finance, says David Chilton. There are huge positive ripple effects of managing your money well. Photo by Courtesy of David ChiltonArticle contentGeneration Z and millennial Canadians are facing financial issues ranging from out-of-reach home...
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Feb. 25, #520Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.Today's Connections: Sports Edition features a mix of difficulties. The green one is kind of fun today....
No Prescription Needed: The 9 Best Places to Buy Reading Glasses OnlineIf you have difficulty seeing nearby objects or reading up close, you may have a condition called presbyopia. That might sound scary, but Dr. Steven Reed, president of the American Optometric Association, describes it as a common age-related condition that usually begins in one's 40s. In short, it's perfectly normal. But if...
UpScrolled’s social network is struggling to moderate hate speech after fast growth UpScrolled, a social network that caught fire after TikTok’s ownership change in the U.S., is facing a serious moderation problem. After growing to more than 2.5 million users in January, users have reported the app is not taking action on the creation of usernames and hashtags that contain racial slurs, and...
Michigan synagogue attacker's brother was Hezbollah commander, IDF saysGetty ImagesA brother of the man accused of attacking a Michigan synagogue on Thursday had been a Hezbollah commander who was killed in an air strike last week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says.Police say Ayman Muhammad Ghazali died after driving a car full of explosives into the Temple Israel synagogue. Members of his...
