After reading citizen concerns related to a proposed data center in Butler County (all of which are valid), another concern needs to be considered regarding the reasons these centers even exist. They exist to store and share digital information and applications.

What information? All or much of the data being stored is the personal, medical and business information of all of us. Much of it stolen from us by giant corporations. Of course we have all signed “agree” many times with little understanding to exactly what we are agreeing to in that moment, and no knowledge of what it will be used for in the future. We are becoming a country of constant surveillance and documentation of our actions.

All of this information is being concentrated in the hands of very few people. We will be candidates for having our bank accounts frozen if we have the wrong opinion (remember the Canadian truckers’ strike?). Our credit cards could be frozen if we have purchased too much gas.

He who controls information controls everything. Is this what we want in a free country? I vote no to data centers.

Peggy Johnson,

Slippery Rock Borough