Opposing AI may soon be seen as “anti-tech extremism” in the US
The US law enforcement agencies privately warn that widespread AI adoption may lead to a large-scale upheaval, which could potentially turn into violent extremism.
Reports from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FBI, and fusion centers, obtained by Wired, name anti-technology activism as an emerging threat.
For example, the New York Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau report states that wide-adoption of AI may “fuel large-scale protests that devolve into civil unrest and anti-tech violent extremist activity,” especially in large urban areas such as New York City.
Wired reports that the term “anti-tech violent extremism” does not appear in any publicly available DHS or FBI domestic extremism reports or guides.
However, the same report warns of an emerging threat following the arrest and trial of Ziz Laota, who allegedly led a cult-like group called Zizians, linked to a string of murders. The group, among other views, is focused on preserving sentient life against AI.
While there’s little doubt that the Zizian ideology is extremist, both American citizens and experts are worried about AI’s potential impacts, ranging from employment to cognition.
Nearly half (46%) of registered voters in the US hold negative views of AI, according to a recent NBC News survey.
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However, the Intelligence Bureau cautions that “paranoid views” about AI may spread after the Zizians’ trial, such as the belief that a godlike incarnation of AI is imminent.
People considered responsible for AI deployment have already been targeted in violent attacks.
In April 2026, a man was charged with attempted murder after he threw a Molotov cocktail at the house of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and one of the key figures in AI.
The US Justice Department said the suspect had documents advocating against AI and calling for committing crimes against AI executives and investors.
According to Wired, the Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center warned in the report that anti-government, anti-authority violent extremists (AGAAVEs) have planned to target data centers and other critical infrastructure facilities to disrupt government operations.
However, legal experts say that Suspicious Activity Reporting indicators listed in the report could also be carried out by peaceful protesters.
For example, the report flags “suspicious activities” such as “expressed/implied threat,” “observation/surveillance,” and “photography,” among others, Wired reports.
Data centers remain the major targets
A report by the Soufan Center, a non-partisan research organization, states that most of the violent anti-AI rhetoric is directed at data centers. Nevertheless, local community officials often found themselves at the center of vitriolic campaigns.
For example, the house of Indianapolis councilman Ron Gibson was shot with 13 bullets after he expressed support for a $500 million data center project.
The report cites numbers from Data Center Watch, stating that by the end of 2025, “hundreds of local opposition groups were active across 42 US states.”
As of now, much of the activism against AI and data centers is peaceful, and it is expected that local elections will “become a key battleground for non-violent AI resistance.”
“However, this could also become a pressure cooker for violent acts against candidates in support of data centers,” the Soufan Center report reads.
Skyrocketing electricity prices and heavy water use are common concerns communities have about data centers being built in their neighborhood.
For instance, a data center in Fayette County, Georgia, secretly drew 29 million gallons of water through two water connections the county didn’t know existed.
The amount of water used is equivalent to 44 Olympic-size swimming pools and far exceeds the peak limit agreed to during the planning process.
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