Data center fights pit social values, democracy and capitalism against each other

Data center expansion is creating a conflict between competing values, according to research from the University of Michigan. These projects pit business interests and technological progress against community concerns, local democracy, and social values. The controversies aren't just about land use or noise—they raise fundamental questions about who decides where critical infrastructure goes, and what we sacrifice in the process. As computing demand grows, these local battles are becoming a blueprint for how societies will manage the infrastructure of tomorrow.

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