Data centre debate heats up ahead of US midterms - here's what you need to know
BBC News
Data centre development has sparked growing public backlash ahead of US midterm elections, as both Republicans and opposition Democrats criticize new sites while President Donald Trump dismisses the opposition as a conspiracy. Data Center Map reports there were about 12,250 data centres worldwide, up from around 8,000 operational sites in 2021. The policy fight is pushing states to propose bans or temporary blocks and accelerating debate over alternatives like space-based or more on-device AI.
Why it matters
Data centres are the lifeblood of our digital world, but there are growing concerns about their environmental impact. The BBC explores their rise in charts.