Center for Data Innovation

For decades, data centers were the quiet, reliable engines of the information economy, operating in the background of global commerce and daily life. But with the rise of artificial intelligence, these facilities have been thrust into the public and political spotlight. Concerns continue to grow about what this expansion means for energy systems, water resources, and local infrastructure. But the root causes of these anxieties are poorly understood and frequently misattributed. Too often, policy responses target the scale of AI deployment rather than its systemic impact.

Whether nations permit AI systems to learn from publicly available information will shape global leadership in artificial intelligence. Restrictive rules on the use of public web data risk shifting AI development to more permissive jurisdictions, undermining a country’s ability to build, deploy, and benefit from next-generation AI systems. A more effective approach emphasizes technical opt-outs, transparency, and safeguards that prevent harmful outputs.

Only 29 percent of Americans agree the US government should prohibit political bias in online services such as Facebook and Google, according to a new survey from the Center for Data Innovation. Moreover, public support for a government prohibition of political bias online drops even further when respondents consider the potential impact of such rules. Only 21 percent agree the US government should prohibit political bias online if it would create a worse user experience—and that drops to just 19 percent if it would limit free speech.