Concerns regarding the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), the construction of massive data centers, and the influence of major social media corporations have sparked a widespread backlash against the technology sector. Public apprehension is challenging the optimistic narratives presented by tech leaders, creating significant political and regulatory flashpoints across the country.
Deepening Skepticism of AI and Social Platforms
Public sentiment toward AI is increasingly cautious. According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, more than half of Americans report feeling more concerned than excited about the growing use of AI in daily life. This figure marks an increase from 37% in 2021.
The mistrust extends to the leadership of AI companies. A CNBC Generation Lab survey conducted among 18- to 34-year-olds revealed that confidence in AI executives is low. Specifically, over 75% of respondents stated they do not trust Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to act responsibly, while approximately 70% expressed similar reservations regarding OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei publicly acknowledged this sentiment, calling it a “crisis of trust.” He wrote that ordinary citizens often suspect that companies and tech industries are “cooking up some new way to screw them over,” suggesting that the causes of this distrust date back decades, with AI representing only the latest iteration.
In parallel, the tech backlash is impacting social media companies. Meta recently reached a landmark settlement with a coalition of state attorneys general. As part of the agreement, the company must pay up to $17 billion and implement substantial product changes. These changes include a default two-hour daily time limit for teens using Facebook and Instagram, muted notifications during school hours, and enhanced parental controls.
Data Centers Become a Major Point of Conflict
The construction of large data centers—facilities housing the hardware necessary for training and operating AI models—has become a particularly visible source of public anger. Opposition to these facilities is disrupting development nationally.
Data Center Watch reported that during the first quarter of this year, approximately $130 billion worth of data center projects were blocked or delayed due to local resistance. This three-month figure nearly reached the $156 billion total value of facilities that were disrupted throughout all of 2025.
Advocacy groups, such as the Stop Data Centers Coalition, have pushed for a national moratorium on new projects to allow time for the public and lawmakers to thoroughly examine the facilities’ environmental, societal, and economic consequences. Emily Wurth, organizing director for Food and Water Watch, noted that the concerns are wide-ranging, encompassing issues like excessive water consumption, rising utility costs, increased emissions, noise pollution, and the potential for data centers to consume agricultural land.
The scrutiny has even reached the tech workforce. Amazon engineers, for example, testified before a Seattle City Council in June, calling for increased government oversight of data centers and criticizing the company’s reliance on “dirty energy” at certain sites.
However, the concern is not universally negative. Jennifer Huddleston, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, pointed out that many labor unions favor data centers, not just for the initial construction boom, but also for the long-term demand for electricians and HVAC professionals.
Despite the opposition, the issue has become a major political flashpoint, especially with the upcoming midterm elections. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) issued a memo warning that data centers constitute a “sleeper issue” for the entire election cycle.
Beyond AI: Surveillance and Broad Techlash
The widespread dissatisfaction with the technology sector is not limited to AI or energy consumption; it reflects a broader skepticism of corporate power and surveillance.
Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, stated that the opposition to big tech is bipartisan and pervasive. He emphasized, “It doesn’t matter if you’re liberal or conservative, or you vote for Republicans or Democrats, or what part of the country you live in. It’s everywhere.”
Concerns over surveillance technology have also gained prominence. Flock Safety, a company that uses AI to photograph license plates, has installed its systems across thousands of US cities and towns. Critics have alleged that police departments have misused these cameras for wrongful accusations or stalking. In response to these concerns, politicians from both parties have called for greater regulation. The progressive Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, posted a video criticizing Republican Mike Rogers for enabling the proliferation of such systems. Meanwhile, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis declared the systems were “out of control,” and President Donald Trump stated his position was “under review.”
Advocacy group DeFlock, which tracks Flock systems, reports that more than 90 cities have deactivated, rejected, or canceled contracts with the company this year. Despite the setbacks, a Flock spokesperson noted that the company has found new city partnerships that have outpaced nonrenewals by about “10 to one,” and added that the company welcomes regulation while developing features to flag abnormal search activity.
Civil liberties expert Jay Stanley summarized the interconnected nature of the public’s anger, stating that the fallout surrounding surveillance issues “folds neatly” into the existing resentment toward AI, data centers, and the immense power wielded by tech billionaires.
