In Hernando County, Florida, a small group of conservative activists gathered outside a local library to protest the construction of a hyperscale data centre, despite the county commission already approving a one-year moratorium on such developments in June 2026. The demonstration was part of a wave of nearly 150 protests nationwide organised by Humans First, a self-described conservative movement aiming to keep the future of AI "in the hands of everyday people," revealing that opposition to data centre expansion increasingly crosses the political divide.

Protesters cited noise pollution, environmental harm and social costs of AI adoption, alongside concerns about national security given that hyperscale facilities often source components from China. Organiser Carol, a 71-year-old retired radio host, described disruptive noise from nearby facilities and relayed claims about livestock deaths and social isolation linked to AI chatbot use. A recent Gallup poll found seven in ten Americans oppose data centre construction in their area, with nearly two-thirds of Republicans and around three-quarters of the wider public expressing similar concerns.