Trump Diverges From GOP Field on Key Tech Issues Ahead of Midterms

As the midterm elections approach, former President Donald Trump has adopted stances on artificial intelligence, data centers, and surveillance technology that diverge from those of several Republican candidates.

Trump has largely dismissed concerns from lawmakers and AI developers about the potential dangers of AI development, calling it a "hoax" and arguing against comprehensive federal regulation. He has stated on social media that such regulations would hinder American AI development compared to China.

In Michigan, Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers has advocated for a "national security framework" for AI and suggested slowing its development to allow government and partners to adapt. His Democratic opponent, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, has used Trump's stance to criticize Rogers, asserting that Rogers prioritizes Trump's interests over voters' safety. Rogers has not publicly responded to these comments.

Meanwhile, in Texas, Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, the state's attorney general, has positioned himself as a regulator of big tech, highlighting lawsuits against social media companies and calls for restrictions on AI bots interacting with minors. Paxton has not addressed potential safety risks from major AI companies, and his campaign did not respond to specific questions about federal AI regulation. His Democratic opponent, state Sen. James Talarico, has launched an AI regulatory platform focusing on job displacement due to AI and export controls on AI chips.

Public opinion reflects growing concern regarding AI. A Marquette Law School poll found that approximately two-thirds of adults believe AI is detrimental to society. Additionally, a Quinnipiac University poll from March indicated that 74% of Americans feel the government is not doing enough to regulate AI, with only 13% believing it is.

Data centers represent another area where Trump's views differ from those of Republican candidates. Trump has defended data center construction as beneficial for the economy and national security. In contrast, Rogers has called for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in Michigan. Senator Jon Husted, running for reelection in Ohio, is sponsoring legislation to require data centers to pay for their utility usage.

Trump's public statements, such as suggesting that communities opposing data centers "want to be backwards and poor," could complicate the position of vulnerable Republican candidates.

Voter sentiment on data centers has also shifted, with the Marquette poll showing 71% of adults believing the costs of building data centers outweigh the benefits, an increase from 62% in January.

Controversial automatic license plate readers, commonly known as Flock cameras, have emerged as a political issue in midterm races. Trump has expressed a qualified approval of these cameras for law enforcement purposes, while acknowledging privacy concerns. In Wisconsin, Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany has called for a moratorium on state funding for Flock cameras, pending a task force. His Democratic opponent, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, has restricted their use by the county.

In Pennsylvania, both Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and Republican challenger Stacy Garrity support a ban on Flock cameras. Public opinion has been influenced by widely reported instances of misuse. The Marquette poll indicates that 61% of Americans view the cameras as unacceptable violations of privacy, while 39% consider them important tools for police investigations.

Flock stated in a release to ABC News that the company has implemented privacy-focused changes and welcomes regulatory efforts, supporting legislation that includes strong privacy, transparency, and accountability measures while enabling responsible law enforcement use of technology.