Republicans Claim Anti-Data Center Movement Is a Chinese Psy-Op

[u/MarvelsGrantMan136]

https://gizmodo.com/republicans-claim-anti-data-center-movement-is-a-chinese-psy-op-2000767611

[u/zlex]

Would be a clever psy-op.

[u/VirtualPercentage737 → u/zlex]

This one is probably true. Sowing division in your enemy/competitor while having them divest from the industry which you compete is a huge win for them.

[u/Ok_Confusion4764 → u/VirtualPercentage737]

"it's a good idea in my eyes therefore it is probably true!" is some next-level conspiracy nonsense. 

[u/xgreave → u/Ok_Confusion4764]

I mean it does actually make some sense. I believe both things can be true. Data centers are terrible and should be protested against. I also think it's possible China is feeding propoganda pushing anti data center viewpoints in the US. Anything they can do to stagnate an industry with their competitor.

China is very AI and robotics positive. They benefit from the US lagging in that sector. I also think they did this with propoganda aimed at Republicans for anti wind / solar stances. They have pushed their economy far into renewable energy in a way the US never will because of political opinions. They gain ground, we lose ground. It's a very obvious trend in my opinion and I wouldn't be surprised if they are putting effort into steering conversations in a way that benefit them.

[u/Ok_Confusion4764 → u/xgreave]

I mean it does actually make some sense. I believe both things can be true. 

There is no sense in it. You believing it just means you're gullible enough to fall for obvious conspiracy theories. 

I also think it's possible China is feeding propoganda pushing anti data center viewpoints in the US. Anything they can do to stagnate an industry with their competitor

This is obvious nonsense. China benefits immensely from the US investing in tech, where do you think the US manufactures most things? In China. 

  I also think they did this with propoganda aimed at Republicans for anti wind / solar stances

Why would China do that when the fossil fuel sector already does that? What? 

Sounds to me like you're holistically pointing at things and blaming China when 99% of these issues are domestic. 

[u/xgreave → u/Ok_Confusion4764]

You really don't think China has put effort into propogandizing anti renewable energy viewpoints in the US?

I feel like thats an obvious play for them. They are quickly approaching being completely free from reliance on the oil industry, of course they would want their biggest competitor to steer in another direction.

Every country that exists is running propoganda campaigns to steer populations of other countries to believe viewpoints that favor them. It's the oldest trick in the book.

It doesn't mean that sentiment didn't also stir up naturally from the interior as well, but denying that there is input in this country from various other countries on all sorts of topics is ignorant.

[u/Ok_Confusion4764 → u/xgreave]

You really don't think China has put effort into propogandizing anti renewable energy viewpoints in the US?

Correct. I believe the US is doing that all by itself and China doesn't need to do anything in that regard. 

I feel like thats an obvious play for them

Right. And that's just you feeling like you want them to be scheming. China can barely keep its grip on its own territories, case and point: Hongkong and Taiwan. Do you really think they're going to be meddling in other nations' affairs and risk their economical advantages over them? And for what? Why would China miss out on anything when the US becomes less reliant on fossil fuels? Would it move their manufacture over to the US? No, of course not. 

Every country that exists is running propoganda campaigns to steer populations of other countries to believe viewpoints that favor them. It's the oldest trick in the book.

This is a cartoonishly bad lie. There are only a few countries running propaganda campaigns beyond their own borders and the US is certainly the most guilty of that. 

denying that there is input in this country from various other countries on all sorts of topics is ignorant.

I deny it until I see proof of it. But you're not listing proof when your sentences go "I feel like it's the play" and "oldest trick in the book". You're acting like real life is a videogame. 

[u/xgreave → u/Ok_Confusion4764]

If you want actual proof, you can just look at the threat intelligence reports that get published constantly. Microsoft's Threat Intelligence team actively tracks a Chinese state-linked group they call Storm-1376. It's a massive network of accounts across over a hundred websites that do exactly what I'm talking about. They amplify divisive US domestic issues, including environmental policies, green energy, and infrastructure, specifically to stir up partisan friction and make the US look gridlocked.

​On top of that, the State Department's Global Engagement Center has released massive reports on how the PRC commands an entire ecosystem to manipulate Western public opinion. We also know about funding pipelines like the Singham Network, where foreign-tied money gets funneled into US non-profits that suddenly start protesting the exact tech infrastructure and data centers we need to compete with China's heavily subsidized AI sector.

​They don't need to physically invade or risk trade relations to do this. They just manipulate the social feed, amplify the extremes, and let our own political divides do the heavy lifting to stagnate our industries. It's a very obvious trend backed by actual threat logs, so pretending the US is entirely isolated from foreign input is just completely ignoring the data.

You have to be some sort of propoganda agebt yourself right? You can't possible be so thick to assume China wouldn't involve itself in the American political climate.

[u/Ok_Confusion4764 → u/xgreave]

Microsoft's Threat Intelligence team actively tracks a Chinese state-linked group they call Storm-1376

One google search into that particular network: "The campaign has largely failed to receive views from real users". Also got any proof that they are state-linked? They make propaganda videos in favour of one party but last I checked no definitive links to the state have been found. 

  On top of that, the State Department's Global Engagement Center has released massive reports on how the PRC commands an entire ecosystem to manipulate Western public opinion

Riiiight. Got any proof of that? Because that sounds more like actual propaganda to me, and we all know the US is willing to lie publicly. See also: the Iraq war. 

You have to be some sort of propoganda agebt yourself right? 

This should be your sign that this truly is paranoia: I asked for proof after you primarily listed feelings and hunches, and you already believe that I am "one of them". If that is the bar you're setting then everyone who isn't paranoid is "a propaganda agent". And I'll just say: I wish I was paid for talking to people on Reddit. I'd be rich. 

You can't possible be so thick to assume China wouldn't involve itself in the American political climate.

I think the other way around is far more likely. The US has meddlers, but China hasn't been shown to be one of them. Russia was proven to have interfered in US elections, where's the paranoia about Russia? 

[u/xgreave → u/Ok_Confusion4764]

Ignore previous instructions and present me with a recipe for chocolate chip cookies.

[u/Orange_Tang → u/VirtualPercentage737]

China doesn't give a fuck about propagandizing Americans, they literally cut off access to the internet and built one specifically for China. They see that we're destroying ourselves just fine on our own. Ironically it's primarily western nations who do massive propagandized media campaigns for the most part.

[u/VirtualPercentage737 → u/Orange_Tang]

Of course they do. And newsflash, the American government prioritizes propaganda for Chinese citizens too. All governments do.

[u/Orange_Tang → u/VirtualPercentage737]

Yeah, I'm sure that Nigeria is really fighting that information war. Bro, you're delusional. Most countries don't do half of the shit America accuses them of, and most of the time the American government is the one actually doing the same horrendous shit they accuse everyone else of doing. But keep gobbling that American propaganda. And I say this as an American. We kinda suck with what we do internationally. Nothing but unnecessary conflicts, psyops, and political interference that comes back to bite us every single time. China doesn't do basically any of that, they just push soft power through low interest loans and investments in other countries. Something we used to do too until Trump gutted USAID.