Tim Turner, Group Head of MAP (Marine, Accident & Political) Risks at Beazley, stated that data centres are increasingly targets for protest and disruption, highlighting the need for insurance to evolve into a strategic enabler that helps organisations protect assets, maintain operations, and seize opportunities amid uncertainty.
“As the backbone of the AI ecosystem, they symbolise progress but also provoke anxiety over building location, societal impact, and the future of jobs – issues that have already fuelled opposition throughout 2025,” he said.
“So far we’ve largely only seen this dialogue play out in the digital space, but will 2026 be the year it spills into the physical world?”
Turner described data centres as critical infrastructure and emphasised that they are prime targets in a world of rising volatility. He noted that governments and businesses must prepare for incidents that threaten them and strengthen resilience to keep the essential systems they support running.
“This is where Strike, Riots, and Civil Commotion (SRCC), political violence and terrorism, and cyber solutions play a vital role. As AI resistance shifts from rhetoric to reality, insurance must evolve from a simple safety net into a strategic enabler, helping organisations protect assets, keep operations running, and seize opportunities amid uncertainty,” he concluded.
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