Claims that China drives US data center backlash lack evidence

In short: Many Americans oppose new data centers, and some political and tech voices blame China, but reporting and researchers say the proof is thin.

What's going on

Data centers are large buildings full of computers that run online services and many AI tools (think of them like giant warehouses for the internet). New polling shows public opposition has surged, with reports saying up to 75 percent of Americans would oppose a data center being built near them.

As that backlash grows, some supporters of data center construction are pointing to China as the cause. In late August, X said it found 200 accounts linked to China that were spreading anti data center messages. That claim quickly spread, and President Donald Trump echoed it on Truth Social, arguing that China benefits from the anti data center movement.

WIRED reports that this storyline is convenient for data center backers because it shifts attention away from local complaints. Those complaints often involve power use, water use, and environmental concerns, plus broader unease about AI. OpenAI also reported in June that it removed a group of accounts it said were linked to China, but it noted they were mainly amplifying existing anger, not creating it from scratch.

What to watch

Researchers who track online influence say there is still little sign that foreign activity is a major driver of the debate. Graphika, a firm that studies how narratives spread online, told WIRED that most data center opposition it has seen appears to be homegrown. With elections approaching and more state bills targeting data centers, expect the argument over who is behind the backlash to keep showing up in political speeches and social media posts.

Source: Wired