Experts: China-linked agitators, anti-U.S. narratives target data centers

A growing wave of opposition to new data centers in U.S. communities has drawn scrutiny from analysts and policymakers who say China-linked actors are amplifying anti-American narratives and fueling resistance to the facilities. The campaigns, which often highlight concerns over energy demand, water consumption and noise, are increasingly intersecting with local zoning fights that could slow construction critical to cloud services and the artificial-intelligence boom. Industry executives warn that delays threaten billions in investment and could strain computing capacity, while security experts point to broader risks to critical infrastructure and ongoing Chinese influence operations targeting U.S. debates. Civil-liberties advocates and environmental groups say their objections are homegrown and focus on siting, grid impacts and transparency. The dispute underscores a mounting tension between national-security concerns about foreign interference and local pushback over the sprawling footprint of data centers powering the digital economy.

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