China, Russia and Iran Target A.I. Data Centers in Scores of Influence Posts
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 9
China, Russia and Iran Target A.I. Data Centers in Scores of Influence Posts
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 9
Summary
Alethea identified scores of state-media and social-media posts this year from China, Russia and, to a lesser extent, Iran aimed at turning A.I. data centers into a political flashpoint.
The campaigns sought to exploit already deep public ambivalence over the facilities by tying them to threats such as higher electricity bills, financial harm and grid instability.
Examples included a Chinese state newspaper publishing a satellite image of a Virginia data center, a China-linked fake Maryland comic on X made with ChatGPT, and a Russian-linked video attacking a Firebird project in Armenia.
Washington is alarmed because A.I. is a top issue heading into this year's midterm elections, though the operations' effect on public opinion remains unclear.