Advocacy group urges intelligence committees to probe foreign influence on data centers
An advocacy group is calling for congressional intelligence committees to investigate foreign influence on public opposition to data center projects in the U.S. They argue that foreign adversaries like China and Russia are deliberately fueling these opposition movements to hinder America's AI infrastructure development. This is framed as a national security threat in the race for AI dominance.
Chuck Flint, executive director of the Coalition for Affordability and Prosperity, has urged leaders on congressional intelligence committees to investigate potential foreign interference in public opposition to data center developments across the United States. Speaking with The National News Desk's Jan Jeffcoat, Flint asserted that foreign adversaries, particularly China and Russia, are actively working to slow or halt the construction of data centers, which are crucial for America's artificial intelligence leadership.
Flint cited instances of China's state-run media and Russia Today publishing articles warning Americans about issues such as water and energy consumption associated with data centers. He highlighted the irony that while these countries warn the U.S., China is aggressively subsidizing its own data center construction. Flint emphasized that data centers are vital "engines" for AI, military, financial, and logistics systems, and whoever builds them fastest will gain significant global military and economic advantages. He described the situation as "cognitive warfare" and "propaganda," arguing that legitimate local concerns are being masked by a national security threat.
Additionally, Flint discussed allegations of connections between the anti-data center movement and Democrat-aligned operatives, including ties to George Soros-funded organizations and an American tech billionaire based in Shanghai with links to the Chinese Communist Party. He mentioned that these well-resourced organizations, some with annual revenues exceeding $800 million, overwhelm public safety resources and use tactics like encrypted signal chats and abuse of nonprofit status to hide funding. Flint believes Americans deserve a debate free from undue foreign influence and called for transparency into the sources of funding for these opposition groups.