A New York City Police Department bulletin warns officers to monitor social media for “conspiracy theories” about AI data centers, sparking concerns about free speech.
The confidential document, obtained by The Intercept, instructs police to scan online platforms for posts opposing the construction of AI data centers in their neighborhoods. This includes criticism of data center projects, concerns about their environmental impact, or worries about the potential consequences of large-scale AI development.
The bulletin specifically warns police to watch out for “individuals who are involved in the promotion of conspiracy theories surrounding the construction of data centers, including misinformation related to the health impacts, environmental concerns, and other negative consequences of data center operations.”
The data centers in question are massive facilities that house the servers and computing equipment needed to train, process, and store AI models. They can be enormous – up to 1 million square feet large and consume as much power as a small town. As AI continues to grow in importance, more and more of these facilities are popping up across the country, sparking debate among local residents.
What this means: This is a disturbing example of how law enforcement is using AI to silence critics of the very same technology. It’s not the first time that concerns about AI have fallen under scrutiny – just last year, a group of researchers raised alarms about the 700 million people worldwide who could be affected by biased AI systems. The fact that those raising concerns are being monitored and potentially intimidated is a worrying sign for freedom of speech.
