X says China used hundreds of bot accounts to amplify fears about AI data centers that many Americans already share

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A hot potato: X says that it has just identified a bot farm of approximately 200,000 accounts created by Chinese operators. What's getting a lot of attention is that 200 of these accounts were apparently dedicated to posting anti-AI data center content designed to influence public perception. The country has tried this before with little success – most people already hate the facilities, anyway.

X's Global Government Affairs writes that the 200 accounts were posting "in a manner that could manipulate a legitimate debate about American AI and energy policy."

The posts contained "claims" that AI data centers are driving up household electricity prices and straining the grid. Other posts featured AI-generated cartoons that depicted data-center operators enriching themselves at the public's expense.