China and Russia exploit AI data center backlash to stoke division in the US

中俄等国试图激化人工智能数据中心争论

Alethea found that Chinese, Russian, and Iranian state media mentioned data centers roughly 700 times in the first half of 2026, aiming to turn US domestic opposition into a wedge issue. Tactics include ChatGPT-generated cartoons, satellite images with English warnings, and amplifying American critics. A May Gallup poll shows 71% of Americans oppose data centers near their homes, and foreign actors are tapping that real anxiety. OpenAI confirmed that individuals in China used its platform for covert social media campaigns, but the posts drew almost no genuine engagement and the accounts were removed by X. The article does not quantify how much these operations actually shifted public opinion.

Why it matters: NYT exclusive on an Alethea report with hard numbers, tactic breakdown, and a Gallup anchor—dense signal. Capped at 78 because it's geopolitical info-ops, not an AI capability story; direct actionable value for builders is moderate.