Introduction
Erin Brockovich, the renowned environmental activist, is once again at the forefront of a battle against big corporations. This time, her target is AI data centers, which are being built around the world to power artificial intelligence technology.
In 1993, Brockovich was instrumental in securing a $333 million settlement with California energy company Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in a scandal over contaminated water. Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it’s global.
Erin Brockovich’s Awakening
When Erin Brockovich woke up to find 30 emails from people from the same town, she realized something was going on. People email Brockovich all the time because of what happened in 1993, when she was instrumental in suing PG&E on behalf of residents of the town of Hinkley, California, whose groundwater had been contaminated.
The case resulted in a settlement of $333 million – then the largest ever payout for a direct-action lawsuit. When she was immortalized by Julia Roberts in the 2000 film Erin Brockovich, she became the hero we didn’t know we needed, a modern-day Joan of Arc. She had won against PG&E with no formal legal training.
The New Battle
The emails she received a few weeks ago were about data centers. In April, she put a callout on her website asking for anyone with concerns about one near them to get in touch. Within a month, 3,862 people had replied. Tech companies have needed data centers to power their technology “for ever”, she says, but the new ones being built to power AI? “This feels like Hinkley on steroids”.
Environmental Implications
AI data centers consume enormous amounts of energy and water, which can have significant implications for the environment. Additionally, the extraction of minerals necessary for the construction of these data centers can have negative consequences for local communities.
Conclusion
Erin Brockovich is once again at the forefront of a battle against big corporations, this time against AI data centers. With her experience and determination, she is fighting to ensure that tech companies are held accountable for their actions and respect the environment and local communities.
Source / Reference: The Guardian Environment