Experts Skeptical of Claims That China Is Behind US Data Center Protests
By
Molly Taft
Toasted golden, schmeared with insight. Top of the rack.
Summary
Right-wing officials, data center investors, and OpenAI have been claiming that protests against data centers in the US are funded and influenced by the Chinese government. OpenAI released a report about Chinese accounts spreading anti-data-center messages on social media. However, experts interviewed by WIRED are skeptical of these funding claims, suggesting that any foreign interference is merely amplifying existing local tensions over data centers and AI in the US, rather than being the root cause of the opposition.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledRight-wing officials and data center investors are increasingly claiming that data center protests are being funded and influenced by the Chinese government.
OpenAI added to the discourse on Wednesday when it released a report describing a cluster of accounts originating in China that, the company said, had been spreading anti-data-center messages on social media.
Experts who spoke to WIRED, however, are skeptical of the funding claims.
They also say that it's likely that any foreign interference is simply adding on to existing tensions over data centers and AI in the US.
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