DAVID MARCUS: What big tech’s weekend from hell means for the future of data centers

The article argues that recent technology failures, including an Outlook outage and a nationwide FAA flight grounding, have made the role of data centres more visible to the public. The author says the incidents create an opportunity for technology companies to explain their practical benefits, as local opposition grows over concerns about energy costs, water use and community impacts.

The piece describes a Maryland campaign that helped stop a proposed $5 billion data centre, and contrasts residents’ local concerns with advocates’ arguments about economic growth and competing with China in artificial intelligence. It says dismissive responses from technology supporters have not helped, and argues that politicians who oppose data centres may face pressure to support them when governing because modern services depend on them.