China, Russia and Others Seek to Inflame Debate Over AI Data Centers

By Paul Steidler: The above verbatim headline appears in a July 9 New York Times article regarding how “state actors in China, Russia and Iran have sought to exploit the U.S. public debate over the effects of the technology.”

Granted, America’s enemies did not concoct concerns about data centers that many Americans have. Many Americans also believe those concerns can be addressed and that the country will thrive with the unprecedented capital expenditures being used to build more data centers, so the U.S. retains its worldwide leadership in AI.

For all Americans, it should be repugnant whenever foreign actors, be they governments or those working at the governments’ behest, seek to sow divisions within America. As Jessica Brandt, an official in President Biden’s Office of the Director of National Intelligence, told the Times, our enemies’ goal is to “deepen our divisions in order to dent our appeal and weaken us from within.”

Ironically, it is American AI that has been able to capture the bad actors red handed, such as OpenAI discovering X/Twitter posts that were first developed with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Government officials and researchers have also identified other infringements.

The Trump Administration should send cease-and-desist letters to China, Russia, and Iran to stop this interference. More importantly, the Administration should work with Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

On June 10, Senator Cotton wrote to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting the Justice Department, “investigate foreign influence efforts targeting the buildout of American AI infrastructure. Alarming reports indicate that a network of foreign actors, led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is attempting to manipulate U.S. policy and public opinion on data centers.”

Senator Cotton also acknowledges that the public has “valid concerns” about data centers and adds, “But we can’t allow any effort by foreign adversaries to extort these fears and undermine our technological development.”

Americans should welcome an open, vigorous, and transparent debate on the need for and importance of AI and data centers. It is the critical issue of our time. And it is not a discussion to which our enemies are welcome.