Blab AI
Senator Cotton Urges DOJ Probe Into Alleged China-Backed Campaign Targeting U.S. AI Infrastructure
On June 4, 2026, Senator Tom Cotton, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, fired a warning shot at a covert foreign effort he says is designed to cripple America’s AI progress. In a formal letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Cotton called for a Department of Justice investigation into a “high‑stakes” campaign that allegedly seeks to undermine U.S. artificial‑intelligence systems and the data‑center facilities that support them.
Cotton frames the alleged operation as a strategic move by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aimed at disrupting the physical infrastructure of U.S. AI development rather than competing in the technology market. He argues that the CCP is turning local communities against the data‑center installations that are essential for maintaining U.S. technological competitiveness. The senator stresses that American technological sovereignty is at stake and urges the public to be allowed to debate the issue without “hostile communist propaganda” that could induce self‑sabotage.
The network, according to Cotton’s letter, is financed by Neville Roy Singham, a former Chicago IT consultant who sold his company Thoughtworks in 2017 for $785 million and now resides in Shanghai. Investigative reporting earlier this year documented that Singham, after marrying Jodie Evans, co‑founder of the anti‑war group CodePink, funneled $278 million into a series of U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits. The money reportedly supports organizations such as the People’s Forum, Tricontinental, BreakThrough News, and CodePink itself. Federal watchdogs and independent reports describe these nonprofits as command‑and‑control hubs that coordinate nationwide protests, produce standardized activist materials, and propagate narratives that mirror China’s geopolitical interests.
The activists have formed a “red‑green‑green alliance” that brings together Marxist, Islamist progressive, and environmental groups. The coalition frames the expansion of high‑performance computing as a threat to community utility costs and environmental quality by linking data‑center energy and water consumption to consumer bills. In doing so, the groups recruit well‑meaning citizens who are unaware that their activism is amplified by foreign funding.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C. think tank, published a report titled “Foreign Influence in the Campaign Against American AI.” The report highlights a dual standard in China’s approach: while Chinese state media and foreign‑funded surrogates criticize U.S. data‑center projects, the Chinese government subsidizes domestic AI data‑center operators, covering up to half of their energy and operating costs. The Institute identifies three streams of influence—state media, Singham‑funded nonprofits, and foreign‑funded environmental groups—that together produce public‑relations campaigns aimed at delaying U.S. energy‑grid expansion and opposing semiconductor export controls.
In response to the alleged threat, lawmakers have introduced the “DATA Act of 2026.” The bill would lift regulatory restrictions that currently require advanced manufacturing plants, research labs, and next‑generation data centers to use the consumer electricity grid. By allowing independent localized energy networks, the proposal seeks to counter activist narratives that link data‑center growth to rising consumer utility costs.
The bill also calls for a formal investigation into whether the nonprofits tied to Singham should register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). FARA requires entities that lobby or advocate on behalf of foreign principals to disclose their relationships and funding. The push for FARA registration has gained support from business leaders such as investor Kevin O’Leary, who has warned that computational power and energy infrastructure are strategic assets.
The debate over AI policy has exposed divisions within U.S. politics. Earlier this year, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez hosted a panel on the “existential threat” of AI. The panel included academics with close ties to Chinese state institutions, such as Zeng Yi of the Beijing Institute of AI Safety and Governance and Xue Lan, a counselor to China’s State Council. Cotton’s letter cites Xue’s involvement with Tsinghua University, a university that has been scrutinized for its role in China’s “military‑civil fusion” program.
The current situation reflects a broader struggle over AI dominance. The U.S. is pursuing legislation to protect its AI infrastructure while confronting allegations that foreign actors are using grassroots activism to delay data‑center construction. The outcome of the DOJ investigation, the passage of the DATA Act, and any FARA registration requirements will shape the trajectory of U.S. AI development and its resilience against foreign influence.
Cotton frames the alleged operation as a strategic move by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aimed at disrupting the physical infrastructure of U.S. AI development rather than competing in the technology market. He argues that the CCP is turning local communities against the data‑center installations that are essential for maintaining U.S. technological competitiveness. The senator stresses that American technological sovereignty is at stake and urges the public to be allowed to debate the issue without “hostile communist propaganda” that could induce self‑sabotage.
The network, according to Cotton’s letter, is financed by Neville Roy Singham, a former Chicago IT consultant who sold his company Thoughtworks in 2017 for $785 million and now resides in Shanghai. Investigative reporting earlier this year documented that Singham, after marrying Jodie Evans, co‑founder of the anti‑war group CodePink, funneled $278 million into a series of U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits. The money reportedly supports organizations such as the People’s Forum, Tricontinental, BreakThrough News, and CodePink itself. Federal watchdogs and independent reports describe these nonprofits as command‑and‑control hubs that coordinate nationwide protests, produce standardized activist materials, and propagate narratives that mirror China’s geopolitical interests.
The activists have formed a “red‑green‑green alliance” that brings together Marxist, Islamist progressive, and environmental groups. The coalition frames the expansion of high‑performance computing as a threat to community utility costs and environmental quality by linking data‑center energy and water consumption to consumer bills. In doing so, the groups recruit well‑meaning citizens who are unaware that their activism is amplified by foreign funding.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C. think tank, published a report titled “Foreign Influence in the Campaign Against American AI.” The report highlights a dual standard in China’s approach: while Chinese state media and foreign‑funded surrogates criticize U.S. data‑center projects, the Chinese government subsidizes domestic AI data‑center operators, covering up to half of their energy and operating costs. The Institute identifies three streams of influence—state media, Singham‑funded nonprofits, and foreign‑funded environmental groups—that together produce public‑relations campaigns aimed at delaying U.S. energy‑grid expansion and opposing semiconductor export controls.
In response to the alleged threat, lawmakers have introduced the “DATA Act of 2026.” The bill would lift regulatory restrictions that currently require advanced manufacturing plants, research labs, and next‑generation data centers to use the consumer electricity grid. By allowing independent localized energy networks, the proposal seeks to counter activist narratives that link data‑center growth to rising consumer utility costs.
The bill also calls for a formal investigation into whether the nonprofits tied to Singham should register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). FARA requires entities that lobby or advocate on behalf of foreign principals to disclose their relationships and funding. The push for FARA registration has gained support from business leaders such as investor Kevin O’Leary, who has warned that computational power and energy infrastructure are strategic assets.
The debate over AI policy has exposed divisions within U.S. politics. Earlier this year, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez hosted a panel on the “existential threat” of AI. The panel included academics with close ties to Chinese state institutions, such as Zeng Yi of the Beijing Institute of AI Safety and Governance and Xue Lan, a counselor to China’s State Council. Cotton’s letter cites Xue’s involvement with Tsinghua University, a university that has been scrutinized for its role in China’s “military‑civil fusion” program.
The current situation reflects a broader struggle over AI dominance. The U.S. is pursuing legislation to protect its AI infrastructure while confronting allegations that foreign actors are using grassroots activism to delay data‑center construction. The outcome of the DOJ investigation, the passage of the DATA Act, and any FARA registration requirements will shape the trajectory of U.S. AI development and its resilience against foreign influence.
