The Trump administration and Kevin O’Leary, known from “Shark Tank,” are suggesting that negative feelings towards data centers nationwide are being driven by a Chinese propaganda initiative.
O’Leary, whose proposal for a large data center near Salt Lake City is encountering significant pushback, claims that “rogue foreign accounts” connected to China are disseminating false information about his project. He sees this as part of a broader strategy to undermine U.S. AI capabilities.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum echoed these sentiments during a talk on FOX Business, stating that any area attempting to establish a data center is susceptible to foreign disinformation aimed at halting progress. He described this as another form of attack on American competitiveness.
O’Leary mentioned he has substantiated his claims with “90 pages of evidence,” indicating that substantial financial resources from various global groups are being allocated to orchestrate these disinformation efforts against data centers.
Interestingly, O’Leary’s conclusions align with findings from at least three reports from pro-Trump and tech-oriented think tanks. These include organizations like the Bitcoin Policy Institute, Power the Future, and the American Energy Association, all substantiating claims of foreign interference in the public perception of data centers.
A report by the American Energy Association articulated that current opposition to the development of data centers in the U.S. is not merely a grassroots movement but rather a strategically organized campaign funded largely by overseas contributors and facilitated through a network of advocacy groups.
Despite these claims, some of the organizations mentioned in the reports—like the Wyss Foundation—have distanced themselves from any accusations of foreign influence, characterizing the allegations as misleading attempts by cryptocurrency interests to sway public opinion regarding data centers.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Code Pink, an anti-war group involved in the discussions, calling the claims “false and defamatory.” The Alliance for a Better Utah also dismissed the assertions as “ridiculous.”
O’Leary’s plans are facing typical resistance often seen as data centers emerge to cater to escalating computing demands associated with AI technology. Local residents raise concerns about the extensive land use for these facilities, fearing potential declines in property values and increased utility costs.
Health issues in nearby communities are also a point of contention.
A Gallup survey conducted this year revealed that roughly 70% of Americans are against such developments, with worries about societal impacts and job losses linked to AI’s expansion.
However, O’Leary maintains that his venture, named the Stratos Project in Box Elder, Utah, is being approached with utmost responsibility. He indicated to NBC News that the project will unfold over a decade to address local safety issues.
Furthermore, he asserted that only about 9,000 of the 40,000 acres would be utilized, and it is projected to create over 6,000 job opportunities, all situated in a less populated, arid area.
Nevertheless, skepticism persists among some, who perceive O’Leary and the administration’s references to a Chinese conspiracy as indicative of larger tech companies attempting to impose their will.
Activist Kyle Schmidt, who has opposed data center development despite his previous support for Trump, described the situation as a form of gaslighting, questioning the integrity of the claims made by O’Leary and others. He expressed a desire to directly ask O’Leary if he would want the data center near his home.
