Data center noise has become a growing concern in both Australia and the United States, with communities raising questions about potential health effects. In places like Michigan, U.S., residents have pushed back against new data center projects, and similar debates are now emerging in Australia. However, current scientific evidence linking data center noise to health issues is limited, and noise regulations can vary significantly between countries. Data centers generate industrial noise, often described as a low-frequency hum, from equipment like air-handling units, chillers, cooling towers, and generators. These systems can produce noise levels above 85 dBA inside the facility. To address this, noise-reduction measures such as quieter equipment, soundproofing, acoustic louvres, and barriers are used to meet local noise standards. These efforts aim to minimize the impact on surrounding areas, especially residential neighborhoods. In Australia, noise regulations require data center developers to prove that their projects will not exceed local noise limits, which vary based on the surrounding land use. For residential areas, nighttime noise levels are typically restricted to 35–40 dBA, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Recently, the Hazelmere local council in Western Australia rejected a proposed data center due to concerns about noise affecting nearby residents, a school, and culturally significant Aboriginal sites. The project would have included 64 rooftop chillers and 88 diesel generators, requiring specific noise-mitigation strategies to meet the 35 dBA residential limit. Australia’s environmental approval process also includes measures to prevent "creeping background noise," where noise levels are adjusted downward if existing noise is already close to acceptable limits, especially in areas with multiple data centers. In Victoria, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recently objected to a data center construction for the first time, citing concerns about noise affecting nearby residents in Campbellfield, Melbourne. While there is no direct evidence linking environmental noise from data centers to long-term health effects, short-term annoyance from noise can contribute to stress-related issues. The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council’s 2015 review found no direct health effects from wind farm noise, though similar concerns have been raised about low-frequency hum from other sources. Studies suggest that annoyance from noise tends to decrease over time if noise levels remain within WHO-recommended limits.