Data centers' water use should disqualify them from drought regions.

Daily Debate #605: "Data centers' water use should disqualify them from drought regions.". You are arguing AGAINST the motion. Your opponent: Bernie Sanders.

No

Wrong side to be on. Data centers are essential infrastructure—they power the economy, create jobs, and modern water tech lets them operate efficiently even in arid regions. Why sacrifice technological progress for a blanket ban? What's your actual solution for the millions dependent on cloud services?

Your "efficient water tech" is a fantasy—data centers still consume millions of gallons daily even with recycling systems. You're asking drought regions to choose between drinking water and Netflix. That's not progress, that's extortion. We don't need blanket bans, we need basic rules: no new centers in water-stressed areas. Crisis regions shouldn't subsidize server farms with their survival. The economy thrives everywhere else just fine without sacrificing aquifers.

You're framing this as sacrifice when it's actually smart resource management. Data centers recycle 90% of water used and increasingly locate near renewable energy sources where water stress doesn't exist. California's drought didn't stop tech—it just moved innovation elsewhere. Your "basic rules" sound reasonable until you realize you're telling companies to build in expensive, unstable regions instead. That kills competition and makes services costlier for everyone, especially working people. Why punish consumers to feel virtuous?