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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Katie Hawkinson

Trump’s DOJ defends Elon Musk-owned data center against NAACP lawsuit

  • The Trump administration's Justice Department requested the dismissal of a lawsuit against Elon Musk 's xAI, arguing its Grok AI platform is crucial for national security.
  • The NAACP sued xAI, alleging its 57 gas turbines in Southaven, Mississippi, which power the Grok chatbot's data center, are illegally operating and exposing local Black communities to harmful pollutants.
  • Justice Department attorneys stated in court documents that Grok provides "critical support for the Department of War’s military operations" and that the lawsuit "threaten[s] artificial intelligence innovation."
  • The NAACP seeks to bar xAI from operating its Colossus Gas Plant until necessary permits and pollution controls are in place, emphasizing that community health should not be sacrificed for expediency.
  • The lawsuit highlights broader concerns about the environmental impact of data centers, which are known to create "data heat islands" and consume vast amounts of electricity globally.

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