Thailand’s suspension of dozens of data center projects last week signals that the backlash against the AI boom—long simmering in the U.S.—is gaining ground in Asia. On Sept. 4, Thai authorities suspended construction of 49 data centers as regulators draft new rules on resource use and safety.
The AI boom had persuaded many Asian governments to aggressively court data centers by offering tax breaks, discounts on land and easy access to power and water. Big tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon have pledged billions of dollars for new data centers and AI infrastructure across Asia.
