The NAACP recently filed a request for a preliminary injunction to stop air pollution from Elon Musk’s company, xAI, and its parent company, MZX Tech. The lawsuit states that xAI is operating dozens of natural gas turbines at its Mississippi data centre without proper air permits, violating the Clean Air Act, and posing a risk to local communities’ health. But, how dangerous are these pollutants to local communities, and what are their long-term health risks? POCIT spoke with Glory Dolphin Hammes, the CEO of IQAir North America, who has years of experience
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi is denying any claims that Elon Musk’s company influenced the planned changes to South Africa’s telecommunications licensing framework. Solly Malatsi denyling claims The claims come after policy changes to allow Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes (EEIPs) as an alternative to existing ownership requirements. But Malatsi claims that these changes were already included in the Democratic Alliance’s 2024 election manifesto and the Government of National Unity’s Medium Term Development Plan, according to Business Insider Africa. Additionally, Committee chairperson Khusela Sangoni alleges that public affairs firm Resolve Communications arranged
Uganda’s communications regulator has given Starlink a provisional license to operate in the country, as reported by Techpoint. The license was granted to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, but Airtel Uganda had previously started testing Starlink’s direct-to-cell (D2C) LEO satellite service. Starlink operating in Uganda Starlink could improve connectivity in locations where terrestrial network infrastructure is limited, as the direct-to-call l technology allows standard mobile handsets to connect directly to satellites without specialized equipment. Airtel Uganda’s testing of the D2C service underscores the growing interest among established telecom operators in
South Africa’s Minister for Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, is planning to introduce legal changes to the country’s Electronic Communications Act to allow Starlink to operate in the country, according to Techpoint. Starlink was blocked from operating in South Africa due to its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) rules. South Africa created the BEE laws to address racial inequalities stemming from apartheid. The policy is supported by the African National Congress Party (ANC), a political party in South Africa known for its opposition against apartheid. Changes to the Electronic Communications
On May 6th, the NAACP filed a request for a preliminary injunction to stop air pollution from Elon Musk’s company, xAI, and its parent company, MZX Tech. The request comes after the organization filed a Clean Air Act enforcement last month. The Clean Air Act requires major sources of pollution to obtain air permits, which include stringent pollution limits and require the use of pollution controls before being constructed or operated. xAI violating the Clean Air Act The NAACP informed xAI and MZX Tech that their personal power plant, comprising 27 gas-fired
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed an appeal challenging the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s plan to issue an air permit to xAI’s affiliate company, MZX Tech. The appeal was filed on behalf of the NAACP, Young Gifted & Green, and the Safe and Sound Coalition, who believe the permit violates the law and threatens the health of families living in North Mississippi and South Memphis. The permit allows xAI to allow 41 polluting methane gas turbines—essentially a personal power plant—at a site in Southaven, Mississippi. The power plant would
On Tuesday, 9th March, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued an air permit allowing Elon Musk’s xAI to operate tons of gas turbines at its facility in Southaven, Mississippi. The permit board’s decision comes weeks after community members held a hearing to share concerns about xAI’s potential health effects, according to a press statement. Internal documents from MDEQ and EPA indicate that the agency faced intense pressure to approve xAI’s air permit swiftly. “We are outraged that, despite the community’s clear demand to move the Election Day hearing,
Billionaire investor Vinod Khosla publicly distanced himself and his firm from comments about ICE made by Keith Rabois, a managing director at Khosla Ventures. Rabois had defended federal agents following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis. Tech leaders from companies including Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic have also condemned the shooting and criticizing what they described as unnecessary escalation by ICE agents. Rabois’ Remarks Draw Internal Criticism Rabois wrote on X that “no law enforcement has shot an innocent person” and claimed that “illegals are
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/techish Techish host Michael Berhane and TechCrunch reporter Dominic-Madori Davis unpack what’s really going on with funding for Black founders — and why so many are heading back to the 9-to-5. They also get into Elon Musk’s clash with X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, Meta’s smart glasses and the end of privacy, and why academics need to step out of the ivory tower. Follow Dom on Instagram (@dominicmadori) and subscribe to her Substack, The Black Cat. Chapters 00:28 Black Founders Are
The NAACP and other civil rights groups have filed an appeal against a permit that would allow Elon Musk’s xAI to use gas turbines to power its massive data center. The complaint was filed by The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) on behalf of the NAACP and the youth-led group Young, Gifted & Green. The NAACP appealing a permit against xAI After xAI began operating in Memphis in 2024, the startup stated that the turbines at the data center were temporary and small enough not to require permits. But, residents living near
