Byron Donalds Vows Local Control Over Data Centers and Stronger Privacy Rules for Flock Cameras

Byron Donalds, the GOP candidate for Florida governor, told an interviewer that local jurisdictions must retain the authority to reject data-center construction, noting that state statutes prohibit pre-empting local decisions. He emphasized that regulated utilities keep electricity rates stable and that any increase must be approved by the Public Service Commission. Donalds advocated for data centers to recycle water through closed-loop filtration or wastewater use and to be sited away from neighborhoods.

Regarding the controversial Flock surveillance system, he said the Fourth Amendment guarantees privacy and that misuse of the cameras has already occurred. He supports Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent actions against the highway-mounted cameras and calls for robust oversight of law-enforcement use.