Explore the infrastructure bottlenecks facing tech expansion as Data Center Watch reports nearly $200 billion in projects stalled or blocked in early 2026 amid community and political opposition, prompting several states to weigh stricter transparency and zoning guardrails.
The reaction of local communities
At an event in Brooklyn hosted by the media company Newsreel, founded by Jack Brewster, the focus was on the impact of technology. Speakers including technology and human rights researcher Maya Woluczem and environmental and public health activist Hillary Flynt discussed the growing discontent among residents.
The main concerns are deals made in secret between local authorities and technology companies, building codes that hide construction plans, environmental and health risks, and the loss of control by the community itself. While some labor unions support data centers because of the temporary construction jobs, critics point out that permanent local jobs are limited.
Stricter rules and political pressures
States such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, New York and Virginia – which is considered the data center capital of the world with hundreds of new facilities in the pipeline – are now considering imposing stricter rules and greater transparency around their development.
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During the event, New York City Council member Chi Oshe said tech executives should be called to testify before Congress. The event also discussed other topics, including artificial intelligence-powered digital assistants, deepfake videos, computer-generated art, and cultural backlash, such as luxury brands turning to handmade works.
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