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Tech Issues Are on the Ballot This Midterm Election Season: What to Know

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Tech Issues Are on the Ballot This Midterm Election Season: What to Know

AI, data centers and Flock cameras are key tech policy issues shaping the campaigns, candidates and voters.

The midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, with early voting already off the ground in some states. In campaigns across the country, politicians are talking about the biggest controversies in tech, from privacy and cybersecurity to child online safety. These hot-button issues are exposing major gaps in US legislation and foundational vulnerabilities that now fuel intense debate over emerging technologies like AI.

Big Tech executives are also ramping up political contributions ahead of the elections, exerting major financial influence over electoral races. Elon Musk is one of the biggest donors, funneling around $366 million into conservative causes and right-wing candidates, according to The Guardian. The venture capitalist firm Andreessen Horowitz has spent $91.3 million this year on Republican-aligned groups. OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna, made a $25 million personal donation to a pro-AI PAC called Leading the Future. (The Brockmans were also among the largest individual donors to a MAGA super PAC in 2024.)

Here’s what you need to know about three of the biggest tech policy debates that may show up on your ballot or affect your vote this November. Make sure to review your state’s board of elections website or other sources like Vote.org to check your registration, find your polling place and see a sample ballot. You can also read CNET’s tips for spotting political deepfakes and scams.

Data centers have found a rare point of agreement across the political spectrum: 70% of US adults — spanning Republicans, Democrats and independents — are opposed to local data center construction, according to a July Gallup poll .


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