# US opposition to technology and surveillance infrastructure

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-opposition-to-technology-and-surveillance-infrastructure
> Updated: 2026-08-31T07:26:05.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

In the United States, public opposition is growing regarding the expansion of technological infrastructure and surveillance systems. Resistance to new data centers is driven by concerns over energy access, electricity costs, noise, and environmental impacts. Concurrently, the deployment of automated license plate reader (ALPR) networks, such as those by Flock Safety, has faced criticism for creating searchable databases of human movement and raising mass surveillance concerns.

This technological pushback is increasingly intersecting with a broader decline in institutional trust. Public skepticism, fueled by perceived inconsistencies in government leadership and COVID-19 policy mandates, has manifested in local political conflicts. These tensions are now appearing at county commission meetings regarding the implementation of both data centers and surveillance cameras.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Institutional trust in the US declines amid policy disputes

Eroding trust in American institutions following inconsistent COVID-19 policies is fueling new local political conflicts over data centers and surveillance technology.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/institutional-trust-in-the-us-declines-amid-policy-disputes

### 2026-08-27: United States faces rising opposition to tech infrastructure and surveillance

Resistance is growing in the US against tech infrastructure, specifically regarding the environmental and economic impact of data centers and the privacy implications of widespread automated surveillance.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-faces-rising-opposition-to-tech-infrastructure-and-surveillance

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Cite as: US opposition to technology and surveillance infrastructure. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-opposition-to-technology-and-surveillance-infrastructure