China Accused of Funding Opposition to US Data Centers
A new report alleges China is funding a multi-billion dollar influence campaign to hinder AI development and data center construction in the U.S. The campaign exploits concerns about power grids and water resources, particularly in states like Texas. U.S. politicians are also involved in the debate, with some proposing a federal moratorium on data center construction.
A recent report indicates that China is undertaking a multi-billion dollar influence campaign designed to impede the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and the construction of data centers across the United States. This covert operation, according to China expert Gordon Chang, aims to give China a strategic advantage in the global AI race, with some anti-data center protests in the U.S. allegedly funded by the Chinese Communist Party or its intermediaries.
The campaign strategically capitalizes on legitimate public concerns regarding the strain data centers place on power grids and water resources, issues that have become particularly prominent in states like Texas due to rapid data center expansion. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has underscored the geopolitical significance of AI, remarking that dominance in this field would confer global control.
Amid this backdrop, U.S. political figures have taken varied stances. Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced the "Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act," a proposed bill that seeks to halt all new data center construction nationwide. In contrast, former President Trump previously implemented measures to facilitate AI development by easing permitting processes for data centers while also addressing foreign security risks.