Republican Senator Tom Cotton has formally urged the Justice Department to investigate what he described as a coordinated foreign influence campaign — allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) — aimed at undermining the expansion of American AI infrastructure, particularly data-centre development. The call came via a letter addressed to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday, 11 June.

What Cotton Alleges

In his letter, the Arkansas senator asserted that a network of foreign actors, led by the CCP, is actively working to manipulate US policy and public opinion on data centres — facilities that are increasingly regarded as critical infrastructure in the global artificial intelligence race. Cotton argued that America's AI advantage is central to its economic strength, diplomacy, national security, and military power.

He specifically pointed to a network of US-based non-profit organisations allegedly funded by Neville Roy Singham, described in the letter as 'a Shanghai-based American expatriate under US-government scrutiny for his ties to the Chinese Communists.' According to Cotton, this network has for years produced content opposing American AI infrastructure development, even as China aggressively promotes its own technological ambitions domestically.

The $2 Billion Allegation

Cotton further alleged that foreign-funded charitable organisations connected to the campaign have channelled more than $2 billion to US advocacy groups — including organisations involved in opposing data-centre projects and in lobbying policymakers. He noted that, despite these alleged activities, no entity in the network has yet been charged under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

'Several of these matters are already under congressional review. Yet no entity in the network has been charged under FARA,' Cotton wrote, calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a full investigation.

The Sanders Panel Reference

The letter also drew attention to a recent Senate event on artificial intelligence hosted by Senator Bernie Sanders. Cotton alleged that two of the four panellists at the 75-minute forum on 'the existential threat of AI' were Chinese government affiliates, including, as he put it, 'a professor from Tsinghua University, a crown jewel of China's Military-Civil Fusion strategy and a host to multiple defence research laboratories.'

Balancing Community Concerns

Cotton acknowledged that American communities have legitimate grievances about the rapid proliferation of data centres, including their impact on energy consumption and natural resources. 'Americans certainly have valid concerns about potential rising energy costs and strains on natural resources related to data centres, and we should implement common-sense regulations and legislation to protect communities from adverse effects,' he wrote.

However, he drew a clear line between domestic policy debate and foreign interference: 'But we can't allow any effort by foreign adversaries to extort these fears and undermine our technological development.'

Broader US-China AI Rivalry

The letter arrives against the backdrop of an intensifying US-China competition over artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and semiconductor technologies — sectors both nations view as strategically decisive for economic growth and military capability. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to Cotton's request, according to reports. How the DOJ responds — and whether a formal investigation is opened — will be closely watched by both the tech industry and national security observers.