Chinese Influence Fuels Data Center Opposition
A recent wave of opposition to data centers in the US has been fueled by Chinese influence, according to a report from the Bitcoin Policy Institute. The report found that Chinese state outlets have run attributed campaigns against American AI infrastructure and export controls.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee asked the FBI for a briefing on foreign propaganda targeting the AI buildout in June, citing an estimate that opposition campaigns have delayed or obstructed roughly $45.8 billion in projects in Virginia alone.
The report also found that X had rooted out roughly 200 accounts tied to a suspected Chinese bot farm that spent months pushing Americans to oppose data centers.
Some US politicians, including Democrats and Republicans, have been quick to capitalize on the issue, with Washington Democrats passing a resolution condemning new data centers by a vote of 578 to 178. However, experts argue that this opposition is misguided and has been fueled by Chinese influence.