The Government of Canada is looking to build a data center in Ottawa.
According to a note from Defense Construction Canada, the facility would be used by Canada’s cyber espionage agency, the Communications Security Establishment Commission (CSE), on “medium to long-term goals” and government operations. The project is expected to cost between $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion, although it is unclear how long it will take to build once plans are finalized.
In a statement to CTV News OttawaCSE said the data center comes as part of the government’s “broader defense investments” made to “modernize the secure infrastructure and capabilities needed to respond to evolving threats and support Canada’s national security and defense priorities.”
In addition, the spokesperson said that it does not “disclose specific operational or technical requirements beyond what is publicly available” to “protect national security and the integrity of its operations.”
Notably, news of this Ottawa project coincides with the Feds’ announcement of $500 million in additional AI funding. It also comes just one month after the government outlined a framework for companies creating data centers in Canada. According to the guidelines, these facilities:
- Must create lasting local benefits
- Don’t have to shift electricity costs to Canadians
- Must minimize water use and environmental impact
- Must be transparent about local impacts
- Must bring strategic value to Canada
It is important to emphasize, however, that the word “must” is misleading, because the government has not actually made this framework legally binding. Therefore, it actually means nothing for big companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, Bell and Telus to say they support the framework because they are under no obligation to actually adhere to them.
This speaks to the larger issue regarding data centers and AI use in general: there is simply little to no regulation. Even Brad Smith, the president of the notoriously AI-pilled Microsoft, recently admitted that milk and washing machines are more regulated than AI, leading him to place greater global restrictions on the tech. Some of the measures he called for are requirements for companies to notify victims when AI agents go rogue and “killswitches” should they really become rampant.
Of course, there are many other concerns associated with AI as well, especially when it comes to their steep energy costs, heavy water consumption and large carbon emissions. This has led to many protests across Canada, with municipalities such as Mississauga approving data center moratoria to assess their many potential impacts.
It remains to be seen what public pushback might come in response to this Ottawa data center.
Image credit: Shutterstock
Via: CTV News