A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a nonprofit network founded by George Soros, alleging that it conspired with Chinese-backed groups to obstruct data center development in Seattle. The lawsuit claims that this scheme has resulted in job losses and harassment for workers and their families.
According to the complaint, local activist groups that pressured Seattle to adopt a measure banning new data center development received funding from international sources, including China, which was funneled through the Foundation to Promote Open Society and another nonprofit, the Proteus Fund.
The lawsuit's principal plaintiff, Monte Pringle, a licensed electrician, lost at least $200,000 in wages and multiple job opportunities due to the protests and moratorium on data center development. The complaint alleges that the funding for the anti-data center campaign may trace back to foreign economic competitors, and that the actions of the defendants, including entering secured construction sites and threatening workers with violence, led to the suspension or abandonment of projects.
The complaint lists several defendants, including two Seattle-area chapters of the Indivisible Project, which has received significant funding from left-wing billionaire Hansjörg Wyss. An investigation published earlier this year linked several anti-data center campaigns to Chinese government-tied organizations, and a federal probe has been called for.
The lawsuit is part of a larger controversy surrounding the growing anti-data center movement, which has been linked to deep-pocketed left-wing funders and foreign actors, including China.