Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has urged the Justice Department to investigate what he describes as a covert campaign linked to China designed to undermine America's artificial intelligence infrastructure. In a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, Cotton called for federal investigators to examine whether foreign actors are attempting to shape U.S. public opinion and policy against data centers and AI development as Washington and Beijing compete for dominance in the field.
Cotton's request follows the release of a report last week from the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., alleging that Chinese state media, foreign-funded advocacy groups and a network of organizations funded by American tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham have spent years building opposition to U.S. data center construction and AI infrastructure projects. The report links these efforts to campaigns aimed at influencing American policy on energy costs, semiconductor exports and technology development.
What the Right Is Saying
Cotton and other Republicans say the threat is clear and present. In his letter, Cotton wrote: "Alarming reports indicate that a network of foreign actors, led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is attempting to manipulate U.S. policy and public opinion on data centers." He argued that America's position in artificial intelligence will have sweeping implications for economic strength, military capabilities and diplomatic standing.
Senate and House lawmakers from both parties have launched inquiries into nonprofits linked to Singham's network, questioning whether the groups should be required to register under FARA. Earlier this year, Cotton introduced the "DATA Act of 2026," which would lift regulatory controls to allow manufacturers, data centers and other energy-intensive industries to build new electricity systems separate from the consumer electrical grid.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and civil liberties advocates who have reviewed similar foreign influence concerns say any investigation must be carefully scoped to avoid suppressing legitimate domestic activism. They note that opposition to data center construction has emerged from environmental groups with genuine concerns about electricity consumption and grid reliability. These voices argue that Americans have the right to protest corporate development projects based on local impacts, regardless of what international actors may share similar policy preferences.
Some Democratic legislators have acknowledged concerns about foreign influence while cautioning against conflating domestic advocacy groups with foreign agents. They point out that registering organizations under FARA requires demonstrating that they are acting at the direction of a foreign power. Critics worry that expansive interpretations of foreign agent registration could be used to chill First Amendment-protected activities by nonprofit organizations engaged in policy advocacy.
What the Numbers Show
According to reporting by Fox News Digital, Singham has funneled $278 million into a series of nonprofits, including groups that have led campaigns opposing AI development, semiconductor export controls and large-scale data center projects. Singham sold his Chicago-based software company Thoughtworks in 2017 for an undisclosed amount. He now lives in Shanghai and married Jodie Evans, the co-founder of CodePink, in 2017. Organizations cited as part of the network include CodePink, the People's Forum, Tricontinental and BreakThrough News.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute report alleges that Chinese state media and Singham-funded groups have coordinated messaging on themes including electrical costs associated with data center operations and concerns about AI development's environmental impact. Pro-China protesters have highlighted rising electricity bills consumers have experienced in recent months as part of their messaging strategy, according to reporting on the protests.
The Bottom Line
The Justice Department has not publicly responded to Cotton's letter. Federal investigators face the task of determining whether advocacy activities by Singham-linked organizations cross legal thresholds requiring FARA registration while also examining potential coordination with Chinese state media operations. Congress is expected to continue oversight hearings on foreign funding in domestic policy debates as AI competition between the United States and China intensifies. The outcome of these investigations could shape how the government defines and regulates foreign influence in American political advocacy.
This story is developing. Multiple sources contacted for comment did not respond by publication time.