--- title: "Bernie Sanders Calls for Halt on Construction of New Data Centers" description: "Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has called for the halt of new data center construction to let democracy catch up to technology." date: "2025-12-18" modified: "2025-12-18" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins" url: "https://futurism.com/future-society/bernie-sanders-ai-data-centers" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" - "Ethics" - "Future Society" --- # Bernie Sanders Calls for Halt on Construction of New Data Centers ![Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has called for the halt of new data center construction to let democracy catch up to technology.]() *Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins / Futurism. Source: Nathan Howard / Getty Images* While some anti-AI advocates have called for some [extreme property damage]() to halt the AI boom, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has a proposition that's a little more down to Earth: simply shut it all down until we can figure out what the hell is going on. In a video shared on [social media](), Sanders announced he'll be pushing for a "moratorium on the construction of data centers that are powering the unregulated sprint to develop and deploy AI." His main contention is that society needs to slow down on the rapid deployment of new tech, and ask an important question: who benefits? "Let us be clear: AI and robotics are the most transformative technologies in the history of humanity," Sanders declares. "Just a few points we need to think about: one, who is aggressively pushing these technologies? Well, surprise, surprise, it happens to be the very wealthiest people on Earth." Sanders' call comes at a time when AI-related capital expenditures account for around half of the US GDP growth throughout the year, as low-income Americans' [purchasing power plummets]() and [vehicle repossessions]() hit levels equivalent to the Great Recession. "Do you believe that these guys, these multibillionaires, are staying up nights worrying about what AI and robotics will do for the working families of our country, and the world?" Sanders continues. "I don't think so. I think that these very, very, rich men want even more wealth, and even more power. " "Question: if AI and robotics eliminate millions of jobs and create massive unemployment, how will people survive if they have no income?" the Vermont Senator challenges. "Very few members of Congress are seriously thinking about this." https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/2001057004370948131?s=20 Sanders goes on to cite the growing degree of [emotional]() [dependence]() users are developing on AI chatbots, as well as the selfish ambitions of billionaires like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Dario Amodei. "One thing's for sure: this process is moving very, very, quickly, and we need to slow it down," Sanders said. "This moratorium will give democracy a chance to catch up with these transformative changes that we are witnessing, and make sure that the benefits of these technologies work for all of us, not just the wealthiest people one Earth." **More on AI:** *[Google CEO Says We’re All Going to Have to Suffer Through It as AI Puts Society Through the Woodchipper]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()